In a rapidly evolving global digital landscape, nations must constantly innovate and safeguard their technological ecosystem. Nigeria’s IT ecosystem, under the stewardship of the Chief Information Technology Officer, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa is emerging as a beacon of digital transformation.
Through strategic international and local consultations, Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is steering the digital sector toward unprecedented growth in tandem with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Inuwa’s recent foreign engagements reflect his commitment to positioning the country as a global digital leader. During GITEX Global 2024, one of the premier technology events, the tech expert delivered a keynote address on “Securing Africa’s Digital Future: Nigeria’s Cybersecurity Roadmap.”
He outlined Nigeria’s cybersecurity framework, which seeks to foster a secure and resilient digital ecosystem. Emphasising the role of innovation in economic diversification, Inuwa listed five pillars: digital fluency, cybersecurity skills, robust policy frameworks, technological innovation, and cybersecurity innovation roadmaps.
The NITDA chief left no stone unturned in highlighting the dedication of the Nigerian government to closing the cybersecurity skills gap, securing data systems, and developing a national cybersecurity architecture aligned with global standards.
In addition to cybersecurity, Inuwa has shown a remarkable capacity to engage with foreign stakeholders, fostering collaborations that promise to boost Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. His meetings with executives of the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) at GITEX 2024 exemplified this.
Inuwa engaged the Center ahead of GITEX Nigeria 2025 to chart ways for inclusive participation, positioning Nigeria as a prime destination for investors. He argued that Africa’s largest economy, brimming with a vibrant youth population and a burgeoning tech startup scene, is ripe for value-driven investments.
In line with the President’s zeal to transform agriculture, Inuwa kickstarted a joint action between NITDA and the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF). This aims to harness cutting-edge technology to address the challenges plaguing the sector, from resource optimisation to improving productivity.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions marks a watershed moment in Nigeria’s quest for food security. The goal is to integrate technology into agriculture, drive innovation, and ultimately enhance the national food security efforts of the present administration.
Inuwa’s local engagements are equally impressive. In his speech at the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards, he stressed the role of digital innovation in fostering economic growth and empowering citizens. He emphasised the importance of a strategy focused on human capital development, digital literacy, and skills training.
This comprehensive agenda, which covers both the formal and informal sectors, aligns seamlessly with President Tinubu’s strong commitment to deploy technology that would strengthen institutions in order to enhance governance and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.
Furthermore, at the 3rd Moonshot Annual Tech Conference in Lagos, Inuwa and other tech leaders from across Africa discussed “Building Digital Economies for the World.” He urged governments to team up with the tech ecosystem to develop regulations that support cross-border data exchange within the continent.
Inuwa advocated Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to unlock the potential of Africa’s digital economy. Nigeria is already part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which promotes automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies and processes, including cyber-physical systems (CPS), Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, cognitive computing, and artificial intelligence.
The Director General also pushed for DPI at the 17th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV 2024) in Pretoria, South Africa, where he represented the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Inuwa recommended an inclusive DPI that builds governments-citizens trust and introduced the African DPI Community, a platform for collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation. His campaign for digital identity systems, payment platforms, and data exchange infrastructures has placed Nigeria at the forefront of DPI innovation.
Additionally, at the the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Inuwa contributed to the launch of the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework, an initiative that sets new standards for the design and implementation of digital infrastructures, prioritising public interest and promoting safe, inclusive, and interoperable systems.
Inuwa’s insights on Nigeria’s journey with regard to a resilient DPI confirm the country’s devotion to harnessing technology for sustainable development, reinforcing the Federal Government’s enthusiasm to support research and technological innovation. His hard work indicates a leader committed to digital transformation.
Mubarak Umar writes from Abuja
