Nigeria is emerging as a global builder of future technologies — NITDA DG
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has revealed that Nigeria is taking deliberate steps to transition from being a consumer of technology to an active builder and contributor to the global digital economy.
Abdullahi stated this on Wednesday at the GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo in Lagos, where he outlined the Federal Government’s efforts to develop digital skills, support deep technology, strengthen local innovation, and build the infrastructure needed for the country’s digital transformation.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has placed economic development and inclusivity at the centre of its agenda, with a key priority focused on accelerating economic growth through innovation and digitalisation.
He said the Federal Government has developed policies and strategies aimed at positioning Nigeria to play a stronger role in the emerging global economy.
“We came up with policies and strategies that will position Nigeria not just as a participant, but as an active contributor to the future economy,” Abdullahi said.
The NITDA boss described Nigeria’s people, particularly its youth, as the country’s greatest resource in a knowledge-driven economy.
“The economy is about knowledge. It is about people, and it is about talent,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that the government has placed talent development at the centre of its digital transformation agenda, including the integration of digital skills into formal education.
He added that initiatives such as the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme are designed to equip Nigerian youths with the skills required to compete globally.
“We want to produce graduates who can meaningfully contribute to the digital economy,” he said.
Beyond basic digital literacy, Abdullahi explained that Nigeria is investing in deep tech, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, unmanned aerial vehicles, blockchain, robotics, and additive manufacturing.
He described these technologies as critical tools capable of driving productivity across multiple sectors.
“We believe skills and literacy are important, but for the future, we need to invest in deep tech,” he said.
The Director-General also stressed the necessity of creating an enabling environment for innovators after equipping them with technical skills.
Nigeria, he noted, possesses both a vast pool of young talent and pressing real-world challenges that technology can transform into viable opportunities.
“We have young and talented people, and we also have real-world problems that need amazing solutions,” Abdullahi said.
He explained that the government is actively developing frameworks around digital sovereignty, data governance, cloud capacity, and artificial intelligence.
“We do not want to be at the receiving end of technology. We want to be active builders of the technology,” he said.
Abdullahi highlighted policies designed to strengthen trust in digital services, including initiatives around public key infrastructure and electronic invoicing, noting that institutional trust is critical for expanding technology adoption among citizens and enterprises.
Addressing support for domestic technology firms, Abdullahi said the government is establishing certification and regulatory frameworks to mitigate risk and boost market confidence in Nigerian startups.
He observed that large organisations often hesitate to engage local startups due to concerns over reliability and quality assurance.
“We do not want procurement processes in government and big corporate organisations to exclude our startups,” he said.
The NITDA boss added that Nigeria is investing heavily in digital public infrastructure, arguing that modern infrastructure must extend beyond conventional physical assets like roads and bridges to include robust digital connectivity and scalable computing power.
Abdullahi urged global technology companies, institutional investors, and hyperscalers to partner with Nigeria, pointing out that the nation’s expansive market presents substantial commercial opportunities.
“Come to Nigeria and build with Nigeria,” he said.
He added that establishing operations in Nigeria should not be viewed merely as entering a single domestic market, but as securing a strategic gateway to Africa and the broader global economy.
Abdullahi concluded that Nigeria’s digital transformation cannot be achieved by the government alone, reiterating the need for sustained collaboration among investors, technology firms, and the international innovation ecosystem to build a competitive digital economy.