The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has described corps members and interns as key drivers of technological innovation in Nigeria, urging them to transform their creative ideas into viable tech startups.
Inuwa made the call at the grand finale of the NITDA Innovation Challenge 1.0, held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The event featured presentations of technology-driven projects developed by corps members and interns under NITDA’s internal innovation programme aimed at solving real-life problems and enhancing public service delivery.
Sharing his personal experience, the DG narrated how his own journey into technology began during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year over two decades ago.
“I had an opportunity to build a website for the place I served, and that opened doors for me,” he said. “Before I finished my service, a company offered me a contract worth ₦1.5 million to develop another website. Since then, I have remained committed to creating value through technology.”
Inuwa disclosed that over 550 corps members currently serve in NITDA, many of whom face challenges securing employment after their service year. To tackle this, the agency, he said, provides platforms that enable them to acquire digital skills, refine their ideas, and build startups before completing their service.
“We know it’s not easy to get jobs after NYSC,” he noted. “So, we are creating opportunities for you to build your own startups while you are here. You don’t have to wait until after your service year — you can start testing your ideas right now.”
Commending participants for their innovative ideas — which included smart performance tracking systems, digital branding tools, knowledge management platforms, job placement systems, and certificate verification solutions — Inuwa encouraged them to continue building solutions that will shape Nigeria’s digital future.
In his remarks, Dr. Ayodeji Eniola, Director in the DG’s Office, described the Innovation Challenge as more than a competition, calling it a “movement” that would redefine innovation within NITDA and across the public sector.
“What we are witnessing today is not just a programme but a movement,” Eniola said. “The innovations developed here will not only transform NITDA but the entire public service.”
He explained that the initiative was born out of the DG’s vision to institutionalise innovation through a structured approach, leading to the creation of the NITDA Innovation Framework (NIF)— a blueprint for harnessing creativity and enhancing public sector efficiency.
“Innovation is not about competition; it’s about collaboration,” he added. “Everyone who took part in this challenge has helped to build the foundation of something much bigger.”
Under the framework, staff, corps members, and interns were encouraged to identify and propose solutions to real challenges within NITDA’s operations and Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda.
The maiden edition of the Challenge attracted 35 submissions from various departments, with 13 priority challenges selected. Twenty-four teams participated in workshops, mentorship sessions, and pitching events, out of which 23 teams successfully completed their projects addressing 10 key internal issues.
Ten finalist teams presented their innovations before the NITDA Innovation Council, with six emerging as winners.
The winners include:
1. Team X (COPA) – 1st Place
2. Team Sentinel (Smart ID) – 2nd Place
3. Smart Track Innovators – 3rd Place
4. Team Trivergent – 4th Place
5. Team TechLogs (SafeCheck) – 5th Place
6. Team Big Tech (Digital Brainbox) and Team SRAPture – tied for 6th Place.
The NITDA Innovation Challenge forms part of the agency’s broader strategy to foster creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving within the public sector in alignment with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
Through such initiatives, NITDA aims to position itself as a model for innovation-driven governance and a launchpad for young Nigerian entrepreneurs.
