The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for deeper collaboration between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the government in order to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and drive inclusive national development.
Speaking at the 1st Civil Society Summit on Civil Democracy and National Development, held at the Rotunda Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Inuwa stressed that rebuilding Nigeria’s economy and institutions requires shared responsibility rather than assigning blame.
“There are things the government can do that civil society cannot, and there are things civil society can do that government cannot. But together, we can achieve greater things,” Inuwa said, urging stakeholders to move from mere criticism to collaborative policy co-creation.
Highlighting the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda—economic reform, national security, agricultural transformation, natural resource development, infrastructure expansion, social sector enhancement, industrial diversification, and improved governance—Inuwa called for a national consensus to sustain progress irrespective of political leadership.
“If we agree on this vision, then we must move forward together, irrespective of who is in government. What matters is continuity of vision and the collective will to implement it,” he affirmed.
Inuwa also emphasised the critical role of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in driving productivity in key sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education. He revealed that NITDA is currently partnering with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to deploy a digital citizen engagement platform powered by AI, aimed at co-creating impactful policies with the youth.
“Technology gives us tools to scale ideas and boost productivity tenfold. Nigeria does not lack ideas; what we need are the tools and the will to implement them on time,” he noted.
Underscoring the importance of rebuilding public trust through engagement, Inuwa observed that the trust deficit between government and citizens often stems from limited interaction.
“Mr. President has a vision for Nigeria. Therefore, we should all work together to support him in achieving that vision. If we agree, we have a consensus that will help us build trust. And when we build trust, we can win the battle today and make Nigeria great,” he concluded.
The summit brought together key stakeholders from civil society, government, and development sectors to strengthen civic participation, reinforce democratic values, and chart a collaborative path for sustainable national growth.
