The push for inclusive digital transformation took a major step forward at the Ondo Investment Summit, where the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, outlined an ambitious vision to democratise access to technology and unlock grassroots prosperity through deliberate digital investments.
Represented by Dr. Ayodeji Eniola, the NITDA chief framed digital development as more than a technological upgrade — describing it as a social and economic equaliser capable of lifting communities, expanding access to opportunity, and creating sustainable jobs.
Digital Prosperity as a Social Imperative
In his keynote address, Abdullahi stressed that prosperity in the digital age cannot be accidental. It must be driven by coordinated investments in digital infrastructure, digital skills, digital innovation, and digital governance.
According to him, expanding broadband access and strengthening digital public infrastructure are foundational steps toward bridging inequality between urban and rural communities. He noted that without intentional policies, the digital divide could widen existing socio-economic gaps. With the right investments, however, technology can serve as a powerful engine for inclusion.
Reaffirming NITDA’s mandate, he stated that the Agency is working to ensure that every state, community, and citizen can participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s growing digital economy. A central pillar of this strategy is the target of achieving 95 percent digital literacy by 2030 — a goal designed not just to create tech users, but tech creators.
“We must equip our young people not only to consume technology but to design, build, and scale it,” he emphasised, positioning digital literacy as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, innovation, and social mobility.
Policy Frameworks Driving Impact
Abdullahi highlighted the Nigeria Startup Act as a landmark framework that provides legal and institutional backing for startups, improving access to funding, regulatory clarity, and investor confidence. He also referenced NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which aligns the Agency’s programmes with national development priorities and measurable impact targets.
Flagship platforms such as Digital Nigeria and GITEX Nigeria were identified as critical gateways linking local innovators to global investors, technology leaders, and international markets. These initiatives, he explained, are positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global digital ecosystem while nurturing homegrown talent.
Ondo’s Digital Opportunity
Turning specifically to Ondo State, Abdullahi called on government leaders, investors, and innovators to seize what he described as a defining moment. He noted that sustained investment in broadband infrastructure, innovation hubs, digital skills academies, and startup incubation programmes could unlock entirely new industries within the state.
Such investments, he said, would not only attract foreign direct investment but also stimulate local enterprise development, generate employment, and expand revenue opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses.
He urged stakeholders to work collaboratively in positioning Ondo as a premier digital investment destination and innovation hub for Nigeria and Africa, stressing that the digital economy represents a strategic pathway to inclusive and sustainable growth.
As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation journey, the message from NITDA was clear: embracing the digital economy is not optional. It is a long-term investment in people, productivity, and shared prosperity — one that can redefine the socio-economic landscape for generations to come.