..calls for stronger federal–state partnership to boost digital transformation
…Says over 130m Nigerians now online as ICT contributes 17% to GDP
…NGF pledges collaboration to expand digital inclusion nationwide
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has urged state governors to strengthen collaboration with the federal government in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy, saying inclusive growth can only be achieved through collective participation across all levels of governance.
Inuwa made the call during a high-level visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja, where he emphasised that digital transformation should not be seen as a federal project but as a national mission.
“Our mandate isn’t just federal—it’s truly national, which means it must embrace state and local governments,” Inuwa said. He urged governors to “strengthen collaborations that embed our initiatives directly within state and local structures.”
The NITDA boss highlighted Nigeria’s remarkable progress in the digital space, noting that when the agency began operations, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians used computers and ICT contributed less than 0.5% to the GDP. Today, he said, over 130 million Nigerians are active internet users, with ICT now contributing more than 17% to the nation’s GDP.
He attributed this transformation to strategic partnerships among government institutions, private organisations, and international development agencies, adding that collaboration remains the key to sustaining this growth.
Reiterating NITDA’s vision of building “a digitally empowered nation that uses technology to drive national prosperity,” Inuwa outlined the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), which is anchored on eight key pillars.
According to him, the foremost pillar — Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent — aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030 through the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) Programme and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
Under the framework, NITDA is working with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to integrate digital skills training into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula nationwide.
Inuwa also announced ongoing collaborations with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative, which aims to train over 10 million Nigerians annually, especially in the informal sector.
“No one succeeds in isolation. We must work as an ecosystem to create prosperity and inclusivity through technology,” Inuwa added, inviting state governments to participate actively in NITDA’s forthcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and Digital Nigeria Conference.
In his remarks, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), commended NITDA’s leadership and reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to strengthening subnational collaboration in driving Nigeria’s digital economy.
He described the agency’s visit as “a significant step toward a more coordinated intergovernmental digital strategy,” stressing that technology is not just an enabler of efficiency but a national imperative for inclusive development.
“We deeply appreciate your leadership and the critical role NITDA continues to play in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. In an era where technology defines competitiveness and opportunity, your work stands at the heart of our nation’s transformation,” Shittu said.
He added that the Forum’s ongoing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report are already shaping reforms in digital identity, payments, and data exchange systems at the state level.
“With strong partnership and shared accountability, we will unlock a future where every Nigerian, urban or rural, has access to the tools and opportunities of the digital age,” Shittu concluded.