In a high-level meeting that underscores Nigeria’s growing role in Africa’s digital transformation, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, met with a delegation from the Nigerian-Dutch Business Association (NDBA) and the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) to advance discussions on data sovereignty, cloud infrastructure, and digital innovation.
The engagement, held at NITDA headquarters in Abuja, focused on developing sustainable local capacity to retain Nigeria’s data within its borders while strengthening the country’s competitiveness in the continent’s digital economy.
Leading the delegation, NDBA President and CEO, Mr. Eric Okunde, introduced IDCA Chairman and CEO, Mr. Mehdi Paryavi, and his team to NITDA’s leadership. The discussions centred on forging strategic partnerships that would enable Nigeria to build a robust digital ecosystem aligned with international standards.
Mr. Paryavi commended Nigeria’s digital potential, describing the nation’s connectivity infrastructure, human capital, and energy resources as critical enablers of its ambition to become Africa’s digital powerhouse.
“The ability to compute will soon replace GDP as the true measure of growth,” he remarked, emphasizing that nations with strong digital infrastructure will shape the next era of global development.
The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration across key areas of Nigeria’s digital agenda. Guided by five core pillars — digital infrastructure, talent development, data sovereignty and cloud adoption, AI innovation, and entrepreneurship — NITDA’s vision continues to align with global technology trends while prioritising inclusive and sustainable national growth.
Mr. Abdullahi reiterated NITDA’s readiness to deepen partnerships with international stakeholders, stating that the Agency’s initiatives are designed to “empower Nigeria to create, own, and export technology while safeguarding the integrity of its data and digital assets.”
The collaboration between NITDA, NDBA, and IDCA is expected to pave the way for new investments, enhance data centre capacity, and promote Nigeria’s digital sovereignty — a key step toward realizing the Federal Government’s digital economy objectives.
