The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by Engr Salisu Kaka, Director of the e-Government and Digital Economy Department, has outlined major steps being taken to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking at the 19th International Conference (CONNOVATE 2025) organised by the Nigeria Computer Society with the theme “Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for a Connected World,” Inuwa stressed the importance of building a secure and innovative digital space.
He highlighted the strategic initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and its agencies, noting that they aim to foster a thriving digital landscape.
According to him, “These include the establishment of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) as a hub for research and development, the Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) to proactively safeguard our nation’s cyberspace, and NITDA’s role in the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 to build trust between citizens and digital platforms.”
Inuwa also spoke on the development of Digital Public Infrastructure, describing it as “a critical framework that will create a unified national identity, enable seamless interoperable payment systems, and facilitate efficient data exchange.”
He said the infrastructure will serve as the backbone for delivering inclusive, scalable, and secure services to all Nigerians.
He added that talent development remains a priority, citing the 3 Million Technical Talent programme and the Digital Literacy for All initiative as key projects that are equipping citizens with the skills needed to excel in the digital economy, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.