The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched a data-driven digital economy measurement system aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
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The initiative, unveiled at the inaugural meeting of the Technical Steering Committee for the National Research Study on the Impact of Digital Technologies on Nigeria’s economy, is designed to provide reliable data and insights to guide policy, investment, and sector-wide planning.
Speaking at the meeting held at NITDA Headquarters in Abuja, Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, said the system will address longstanding gaps in digital economy data and enable evidence-based decision-making across critical sectors.
“In today’s economy, data is the backbone of growth. Without credible data, investors and development partners cannot make informed decisions,” Inuwa said.
He explained that the framework will track key indicators including digital infrastructure, cloud computing capacity, connectivity, cybersecurity readiness, digital literacy, and talent distribution across the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, which gained momentum following telecom deregulation in the early 2000s, has already positioned the financial services sector as a leader in digital adoption, offering a model for other industries.
The NITDA DG stressed the need for coordinated implementation at both federal and state levels, noting that engagement with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum will be critical to ensuring nationwide alignment.
He also called for the integration of cybersecurity as a core component of the measurement system, citing increasing threats in the digital space.
The multi-stakeholder steering committee includes representatives from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV), as well as experts from academia and industry.
Inuwa expressed confidence that the initiative will institutionalise data-driven governance and produce actionable insights that will shape Nigeria’s digital economy agenda and support the country’s long-term economic growth targets.
