Nigeria’s digital awakening is charting a bold path of innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity, unlocking new opportunities for millions of citizens.
This was the central message from Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), whose leadership continues to redefine how Nigeria builds, owns, and exports technology to the world.
Speaking at the NORDIC Nigeria Connect held in Lagos, Inuwa delivered a keynote address that captured the spirit of digital transformation and partnership, outlining Nigeria’s ambition and roadmap toward a sustainable digital future.
According to him, the nation’s vision extends far beyond physical infrastructure—it is about designing a new digital economic operating system for Nigeria, one grounded in inclusivity, resilience, security, and shared prosperity.
Inuwa explained that Nigeria’s digital ambition rests on two key pillars:
- A shared digital backbone — the hardware layer that includes fibre optics, green data centres, and sovereign cloud services.
- An operational backbone — the software layer that powers digital public infrastructure such as identity, payments, and data exchange systems.
However, he emphasised that technology alone is not the end goal. The true focus, he said, is empowering people — ensuring that every citizen can access digital opportunities and that both government and businesses deliver delightful, seamless digital services aligned with President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Through initiatives like the National Digital Literacy Framework, the Digital Literacy for All Initiative, and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme, NITDA is nurturing a new generation of digitally skilled Nigerians ready to thrive in the global digital economy.
Inuwa also underscored the importance of collaboration, both within Nigeria’s ecosystem and across borders. He highlighted how deeper engagement between Nigeria and the Nordic region could unlock vast potential in talent development, innovation, and sustainable investment, ultimately driving inclusive growth for all.
The NORDIC Nigeria Connect convened innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore new avenues of partnership between Nigeria and Nordic nations — a collaboration built on shared values of sustainability, innovation, and digital inclusion.
ANTHONY EMEKA NWOSU
