The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to deepen collaboration with the United States toward building a secure, trusted and resilient digital ecosystem, with emphasis on data privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and capacity development.
He made this known while delivering an address at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building Workshop organised by the United States Department of State, in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission and key stakeholders within the digital ecosystem.
Expressing delight over the engagement, Inuwa described the workshop as a reaffirmation of the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United States in strengthening the nation’s technical and digital architecture. He noted that the collaboration is not new but part of a deliberate and evolving effort to jointly address emerging digital challenges and opportunities.
The NITDA Director General recalled that in April 2024, both countries, under the framework of the U.S.–Nigeria Binational Commission, agreed to collaborate in critical areas such as data privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, capacity building and other aspects of digital development.
He further noted that the same year saw the successful hosting of an Artificial Intelligence Conference co-hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, alongside Nigeria’s engagements with U.S. cybersecurity companies to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening the country’s technical ecosystem.
Inuwa explained that NITDA’s strong focus on data privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and policy is anchored on one fundamental objective: building trust within the digital ecosystem. He stressed that trust remains a critical enabler of digital transformation, noting that its absence slows innovation and raises costs, while its presence accelerates progress and lowers barriers to growth.
The NITDA boss stressed that achieving a prosperous digital economy requires deliberate efforts to protect data privacy, strengthen security frameworks and deploy artificial intelligence responsibly.
He noted that artificial intelligence depends on data, data requires privacy, and privacy can only be assured through robust security, making it impractical to treat these critical issues in isolation.
Inuwa described the workshop as the beginning of broader engagements and deeper collaboration across other strategic areas, especially as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital economy.
He disclosed that following the participation of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria at the National Cybersecurity Conference held last year, plans are underway to elevate the conference into an international cybersecurity platform this year.
According to him, the proposed international conference will offer U.S. cybersecurity companies the opportunity to showcase their technologies, explore partnerships with Nigerian firms developing local cyber solutions, and collectively strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
Inuwa also reassured partners and stakeholders of NITDA’s commitment to building sound policies and an enabling environment that allows innovation to thrive. He noted that Nigeria, alongside Africa, represents the next frontier of the global digital economy, driven by a youthful, digital-native population and a rapidly expanding market.
He said that while many public and private sector organisations in Nigeria rely on U.S. technologies to build their digital systems, the country also possesses significant local talent capable of developing homegrown solutions to address national and regional challenges. He added that NITDA remains committed to working with international partners to build local capacity and promote Nigeria’s digital self-determination.
According to the DG, digital technology is no longer optional, as it represents the future of economic growth and development, stressing that no nation can afford to be left behind in the digital race.
He emphasised that the only way to fully harness the opportunities presented by the ongoing artificial intelligence revolution is by safeguarding privacy, establishing sound policies and laying a strong digital foundation capable of supporting rapid technological advancement.
Inuwa commended the United States Department of State and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for their sustained partnership and support, expressing confidence that the collaboration will be further strengthened to explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, for the mutual benefit of both countries.
