The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for ethical and responsible governance of digital technology in Africa during the 19th Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The high-profile event, themed “Building Our Multi-stakeholder Digital Future,” gathered global leaders to address critical issues surrounding the digital ecosystem.
- Speaking at the forum, Inuwa emphasized the need for stricter oversight in the wake of rising challenges posed by unregulated social media platforms. Citing the Cambridge Analytica scandal as a cautionary tale, he underscored the dangers of unchecked digital influence and its potential to harm societal structures.
Highlighting Nigeria’s proactive stance, the NITDA boss outlined the nation’s Code of Practice (COP) for social media platforms. This framework ensures compliance with Nigerian laws and cultural values, facilitating a safer digital space. Inuwa revealed that the COP had achieved significant milestones in 2024, including the removal of over 60 million harmful posts and the reinstatement of wrongly flagged content, demonstrating the framework’s efficiency in content moderation.
The COP’s impact extends beyond governance. Inuwa disclosed that the digital economy has seen remarkable growth, with tech companies contributing over 2.5 trillion naira in Value Added Tax (VAT) within the past six months, reinforcing the economic potential of a well-regulated digital environment.
Inuwa urged African nations to collaborate in shaping global technology governance. He highlighted the need for building digital sovereignty, strengthening regional capacities, and ensuring the continent’s active participation in the evolving digital future.
As discussions continue at IGF 2024, Inuwa’s address serves as a clarion call for Africa to take a unified and strategic approach to ethical digital governance.
