The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has underscored the importance of renewable energy and digital innovation in driving inclusive growth and transforming rural communities across Nigeria.
Speaking as a panellist at the Civil Society Policy Forum during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., Inuwa described renewable energy as a “fundamental enabler” of digital inclusion and economic empowerment.
“Renewable energy is not the destination; it is a catalyst. When there is power, connectivity follows, and that connectivity triggers true transformation,” he said.
The NITDA boss highlighted how clean energy and technology can transform livelihoods, citing examples of AI-powered farming tools, online platforms for women entrepreneurs, and digital jobs that enable rural youth to earn globally while working locally.
“A farmer equipped with a simple app can double his income, send his child to school, and employ others. A young person with internet access doesn’t need to migrate to Abuja or Lagos—he can work from his village and earn in dollars,” Inuwa explained.
Linking these initiatives to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s *Renewed Hope Agenda*, Inuwa said Nigeria’s digital economy strategy—anchored by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy—rests on five pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade. NITDA, he added, builds on this framework through eight strategic pillars, including digital literacy, research, cybersecurity, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
He disclosed that NITDA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, is integrating digital literacy into the national school curriculum from kindergarten to tertiary levels. In addition, digital competency has become a prerequisite for employment and promotion within the civil service.
Through these initiatives, the agency aims to train 50 million Nigerians by 2027 to build a digitally skilled workforce capable of driving national transformation.
“Our vision is clear, our journey is set, and our resolve is stronger than ever. We invite everyone to join us in building a digitally empowered and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking at the session, Fowzia Hassan, Senior Operations Officer for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding energy access across Africa through its *Mission 300 (M300)* initiative, which targets 300 million new connections by 2030.
“Access to energy has always been central to the Bank’s development agenda, but with M300, we’ve set a clear target, a deadline, and the resources to make it happen,” Hassan stated.
She explained that the initiative unites efforts by the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA to strengthen regulations, attract private investment, and deploy innovative financing models—including blended finance and risk-sharing facilities—to reach underserved communities.
Highlighting the gender dimension of energy access, Hassan noted that women constitute 32 percent of Africa’s renewable energy workforce, primarily in non-technical roles, and called for more policies to promote women’s participation in technical and leadership positions.
“Women are vital consumers, producers, and decision-makers in energy. Yet they face barriers ranging from finance to education and workplace inclusion,” she emphasised.
Hassan further mentioned World Bank–supported initiatives such as partnerships with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on National Energy Compacts, Nigeria’s DAIRS programme—which aims to mobilise over $1 billion for mini-grids and solar systems—and the *Women in Energy Network Africa (WEN-Africa)*, which has facilitated jobs for 57 women and aims to create 4,000 energy sector jobs for women within three years.
“Creating a clean, inclusive, and just energy transition is not just about connecting homes—it’s about empowering people, especially women and youth, to drive Africa’s prosperity,” she concluded.
