In a significant high-level engagement in Abuja, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, appealed to the governors of Nigeria’s 36 states to speed up and deepen efforts toward a tech-driven, inclusive growth agenda. His message: digital transformation is not solely the preserve of the federal government; rather, it requires full collaboration across state and local governments to be successful.
During a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) secretariat, Abdullahi underscored that NITDA’s mandate is truly national in scope. “Our mandate isn’t just federal—it’s truly national, which means it must embrace state and local governments,” he said.
His advocacy came against the backdrop of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) and other key national digital initiatives aimed at creating greater digital literacy, amplifying public-service delivery and harnessing technology for economic inclusion.
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Nigeria’s Digital Leap and the Road Ahead
Abdullahi laid out the scale of Nigeria’s digital evolution: when NITDA began, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians were regular computer users, and the contribution of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to GDP stood at less than 0.5 per cent. That number has since soared, with over 130 million internet users and ICT now contributing more than 17 per cent to the national GDP.
Such progress, he noted, has been driven through partnerships involving government institutions, private sector players and international development partners. But to maintain momentum and ensure that benefits reach every state and local level, he stressed the need for deeper embedment of digital programmes at the state and local government level.
To this end, NITDA is concentrating on several core pillars:
- Digital literacy and talent cultivation: NITDA is targeting 70 per cent national digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030 via initiatives such as the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
- Curriculum integration: Through partnerships with the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Federal Ministry of Education, digital-skills training is being built into educational curricula from primary to tertiary levels.
- Civil-service and informal-sector reach-out: Collaboration with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is underway, with a view to training 10 million Nigerians annually through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative—especially targeting the informal sector.
Abdullahi concluded that while the strides made are laudable, the real challenge is ensuring that digital transformation becomes inclusive—reaching underserved communities, bridging the urban-rural divide and ensuring that the benefits of technology are widely shared.
Why State Governments Must Take the Lead
The visit to the Governors’ Forum was both symbolic and substantive: symbolically signalling the importance of sub-national buy-in for the digital agenda; and substantively calling on state governors to take ownership of digital transformation within their jurisdictions.
The NGF’s Director-General, Abdulateef Shittu, welcomed NITDA’s proactive outreach, noting that technology is now a fundamental enabler of competitiveness, opportunity and national development. In his remarks, he stated that digital transformation goes beyond mere administrative efficiency—it is a “national imperative” for improved service delivery, economic opportunities and inclusive development.
In practical terms, governors were invited to engage with NITDA’s upcoming conferences, such as the International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and the Digital Nigeria Conference, platforms designed to foster cross-state learning, collaboration and sharing of best practices in digital governance.
For state governments, the message is clear: aligning with national digital initiatives, leveraging NITDA’s frameworks and embedding technology in state and local government systems is not optional—it’s imperative if they are to ensure their citizens benefit from the digital economy.
The Path to Inclusive Tech-Driven Growth
Reflecting on the agency’s agenda, several discernible themes emerge—each of which offers actionable takeaways for stakeholders across the country:
- From access to capability: The shift isn’t just about providing access to devices or connectivity—it’s about building digital skills, literacy and capabilities so Nigerians can fully participate in the digital economy.
- Governance and ecosystem collaboration: It’s not sufficient for NITDA to act alone. Effective digital transformation demands an ecosystem approach, where federal agencies, state governments, academia, the private sector and civil society all pull together. As Abdullahi put it: “No one succeeds in isolation. We must work as an ecosystem to create prosperity and inclusivity through technology.”
- Embedding tech in everyday governance: For the tech agenda to be inclusive, it must permeate state and local government systems—public-service delivery, revenue collection, education, healthcare, and rural-infrastructure development.
- Setting measurable targets: Clear targets such as 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027, and 95 per cent by 2030, provide transparency and accountability. State governments that align with these goals stand to benefit materially. dailypost.ng
- Inclusive reach beyond urban centres: A truly inclusive growth agenda must bridge the divide between cities and rural communities, ensure that women and marginalised populations are brought into the fold, and harness informal-sector players.
- Continuous learning and peer sharing: Platforms like ICEGOV and the Digital Nigeria Conference offer opportunities for states to learn from one another, replicate success stories and avoid duplication of effort.
From an editorial vantage, this is a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s digital economy. The frameworks and ambitions are in place; what matters now is execution—particularly at the state level. Governors who proactively engage, align with national strategy, and champion digital transformation within their states will help accelerate a shift from discrete tech projects to a nationwide, inclusive digital ecosystem.
Conclusion
The DG’s visit to the Governors’ Forum underscored a vital pivot: technology is not a niche sector—it is foundational to national growth, service delivery and inclusive development. With millions of Nigerians yet to fully tap into the digital promise, the call to accelerate tech-driven inclusive growth is timely and necessary. For state governments willing to step up, the opportunity is substantial; for those that lag behind, the risk of falling further behind in the digital race looms large. The message from NITDA is clear: “Let us move together, as one nation, to harness technology for the prosperity of all.”
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