The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on state and local governments to strengthen collaboration with the Federal Government in accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and achieving inclusive national growth.
Inuwa made the call during a high-level visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja, where he emphasised that digital transformation is a national vision that requires active participation from all levels of government.
“Our mandate isn’t just federal; it’s truly national, which means it must embrace state and local governments,” Inuwa said, urging governors to embed NITDA’s initiatives within state and local structures.
Highlighting Nigeria’s digital progress, the NITDA boss noted that when the agency began operations, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians used computers, and ICT contributed less than 0.5% to the GDP. Today, over 130 million Nigerians use the internet, and ICT contributes more than 17% to the GDP.
He attributed this transformation to strategic partnerships between government agencies, private organisations, and international development partners, stressing that “no one succeeds in isolation.”
Inuwa reiterated NITDA’s vision of building “a digitally empowered nation that uses technology to drive national prosperity”, guided by the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), anchored on eight key pillars.
He said the first pillar—Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent—remains central to the agency’s agenda. NITDA, he disclosed, aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030 through programmes such as the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) initiative and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
According to him, the agency is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to integrate digital skills training into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula nationwide.
Inuwa also announced ongoing collaborations with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train civil servants and corps members through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative, expected to impact over 10 million Nigerians annually, especially in the informal sector.
He further invited state governments to participate actively in NITDA’s upcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and Digital Nigeria Conference, designed to foster cross-state learning and collaboration in digital governance.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, commended NITDA’s efforts in advancing the country’s digital economy, describing the visit as a vital step toward deepening intergovernmental collaboration.
“We deeply appreciate your leadership and the critical role NITDA continues to play in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. In an era where technology defines competitiveness and opportunity, your work stands at the heart of our nation’s transformation,” Shittu said.
He described digital transformation as a “national imperative” that can improve service delivery, expand economic opportunities, and uplift millions of Nigerians.
Dr. Shittu also highlighted the Forum’s initiatives, including the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and the Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report, which guide subnational reforms in digital identity, data exchange, payments, and trust systems.
“These reports are already shaping conversations and actions at the subnational level,” he said, adding that collaboration on Technical Standards for DPI and the Nigeria Data Exchange Framework will strengthen interoperability and secure data sharing across government systems.
“With strong partnership and shared accountability, we will unlock a future where every Nigerian, urban or rural, has access to the tools and opportunities of the digital age,” Shittu added.
