NITDA DG urges Jigawa to prioritise strategic digital infrastructure
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called on the Jigawa State Government to adopt a deliberate and sustainable approach to digital infrastructure development as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s economy.
Inuwa made the call while speaking at the Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunications (Galaxy ITT) Repositioning Retreat, themed, “From Strategic Intent to a Phased, Bankable and Accountable Digital Infrastructural Platform for Jigawa State.”
The NITDA boss said the state’s digital transformation must be guided by a clear roadmap, strong policies and sustained investment, stressing that development should not be left to chance.
According to him, Jigawa must first determine where it wants to be in the coming years and then develop the institutional structures and digital infrastructure required to achieve its goals.
“Development cannot happen by accident. We must have a clear direction of where we want to be in the next few years and build the infrastructure and institutions that will take us there,” Inuwa said.
He urged stakeholders to reposition Galaxy ITT to play a stronger role in driving digital transformation across the state, noting that the organisation must focus on rebuilding public confidence, strengthening its workforce and creating stronger partnerships with the private sector.
Inuwa said collaboration between government, startups, innovators, technology companies and other stakeholders would be critical to creating a sustainable digital economy in Jigawa.
He also identified effective policies and regulatory frameworks as important foundations for the state’s digital development.
The NITDA DG said attention must also be given to digital skills, emerging technologies, research and development, cybersecurity, innovation and broadband infrastructure.
He encouraged the state to make better use of existing technology facilities while providing opportunities for young people to develop their ideas into commercially viable products and services.
According to him, Jigawa’s young population represents an important resource that could help the state reduce its dependence on federal allocations by creating technology-driven industries and new sources of economic activity.
“Technology can become a major pathway for job creation, innovation, economic diversification and long-term prosperity in Jigawa State if we get the strategy right and sustain the investment,” he said.
Inuwa further stressed that the state’s digital transformation should go beyond individual administrations, warning that continuity would be necessary for long-term results.
He called for strong institutional commitment to ensure that digital infrastructure projects and policies are properly planned, funded, monitored and sustained.
The NITDA DG said a coordinated approach would enable Jigawa to build a competitive and digitally empowered economy capable of attracting investment and creating opportunities for its growing youth population.
He added that the repositioning of Galaxy ITT should therefore be viewed as part of a broader effort to establish a reliable digital ecosystem that would support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth.
Inuwa urged all stakeholders to translate the outcomes of the retreat into practical programmes, stressing that the success of Jigawa’s digital ambitions would ultimately depend on implementation, accountability and sustained commitment.
He said with the right structures and long-term planning, technology could help transform the state’s economic landscape and position Jigawa as a stronger participant in Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.