By Olakunle Oke
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has described the conclusion of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2025) as a major milestone in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy and research excellence.
The Agency said the event has boosted global partnerships, and the nation’s digital transformation drive.
Hosted in Abuja, the four-day conference brought together global experts for discussions, research presentations, and collaborations aimed at deepening electronic governance. NITDA noted that the event aligned with the President’s priority of accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation and digitisation.
Organised by the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), ICEGOV 2025 attracted academia, industry players, civil society, and government representatives from around the world. Nigeria took the spotlight with 308 authors from 33 countries submitting 151 research papers, 68 percent of them from emerging economies. The country led all submissions with 102 authors, followed by Brazil, India, Portugal, and Greece.
NITDA attributed this strong showing to its decade-long investments in digital skills development, research support, and ecosystem growth efforts that have started yielding both local and international recognition.
Among the highlights was the Best Paper Award presented to Robert Ifeonu of the Central Bank of Nigeria for his research titled “Micro-Transformation Framework for Public Sector Innovation: Catalysing Resilient, Outcome-Driven Digital Governance.” NITDA said the recognition demonstrates Nigeria’s growing leadership in designing home-grown governance models that can drive socio-economic development.
Director of UNU-EGOV, Professor Delfina Soares, commended NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, for his leadership and early support in bringing ICEGOV to Abuja. She said NITDA’s coordination and local partnerships greatly enhanced the global impact of the conference while elevating Africa’s standing in digital governance research.
NITDA highlighted that hosting ICEGOV 2025 not only positioned Nigeria as a digital innovation hub but also fostered partnerships expected to stimulate investment, research, and capacity-building programmes. The Agency added that knowledge shared at the conference would enhance public sector efficiency, improve regulatory frameworks, and accelerate the Federal Government’s drive toward a knowledge-based economy.
As delegates departed Abuja with new collaborations and commitments, NITDA reaffirmed its resolve to sustain the momentum and ensure that Nigeria continues to play a leading role in shaping global digital governance conversations.
