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Tag: NITDA

  • NITDA backs crisis communication hub to counter AI-driven misinformation

    NITDA backs crisis communication hub to counter AI-driven misinformation

    The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has endorsed the establishment of a centralised National Crisis Communication Hub (NCCH) to counter the growing threats of fake news, hate speech and artificial intelligence-driven misinformation in Nigeria.

    Inuwa gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), led by its Chairman, Major-General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), following the successful conclusion of the maiden National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication.

    The NITDA chief said misinformation often spreads faster than verified facts because of its “novelty factor,” noting that the disruption of traditional media by social platforms has empowered individuals and groups to disseminate harmful content with far-reaching economic and social consequences.

    “There is a direct correlation between novelty and virality,” Inuwa said. “Misinformation is often packaged as something new or shocking, which allows it to outpace accurate information. The way forward is to build public trust through credible government action and strong, strategic partnerships.”

    Warning that AI-generated deepfakes and automated propaganda would likely intensify before and during the 2027 political season, Inuwa stressed that these developments make the creation of a coordinated national response mechanism more urgent than ever.

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    On CCC’s 12-point resolution, NITDA outlined workstreams to fast-track implementation of the proposed hub. These include strengthening digital literacy and professional training by leveraging platforms such as Cisco NetAcad to equip journalists, media professionals and security spokespersons with skills in AI-content detection and ethical reporting.

    The agency also proposed the expansion of crisis-communication conversations through regional symposiums across Nigeria to deepen grassroots participation and awareness. In addition, NITDA plans engagement with global technology companies to enable faster categorisation and takedown of content that poses risks to national security.

    Cybersecurity collaboration also featured prominently, with Inuwa disclosing plans to work closely with the relevant cyber units of critical institutions to establish a multi-layered defence against digital threats.

    Speaking, Major-General Olukolade said the call for a National Crisis Communication Hub was the central resolution of the recent symposium held at the National Defence College. He stressed that Nigeria must adopt proactive, predictive and digitally powered tools to manage emerging security and information threats.

    According to him, the proposed centre would operate as an independent, multi-stakeholder platform designed to monitor and counter harmful content during sensitive periods such as elections, while safeguarding democratic principles and freedom of expression.

    Olukolade also advocated the development of specialised mobile applications that would allow citizens to report crimes and emergencies in real-time, effectively transforming social media and digital platforms into tools for public safety and early warning.

    Inclusivity formed a critical part of the discussions, with both NITDA and the CCC agreeing that digital innovation must amplify the voices of persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups, ensuring that emergency alerts and crisis information are accessible to all segments of society.

    To translate the resolutions into action, NITDA and the CCC agreed to constitute a joint working team to document specific agreements and drive implementation throughout 2026, positioning the proposed hub as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s digital resilience against misinformation and emerging information threats.

  • NITDA, Futuremap partner on tech growth, film studio for Kannywood

    NITDA, Futuremap partner on tech growth, film studio for Kannywood

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is set to collaborate with FutureMap Foundation to transform Northern Nigeria’s creative and digital industry by providing technology capacity building and establishing a world-class film studio.

    The ambitious public-private initiative is designed to align the Northern region’s creative operations with global best practices, leveraging the power of the digital economy to drive national growth.

    Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, announced the intervention during a high-level roundtable with tech innovators and Kannywood stakeholders at the PRNigeria Centre for Research and Development in Kano.

    Inuwa noted that filmmakers often wield more power in shaping public perception and behavioral change than political actors. He urged producers to move beyond profit-seeking and create content that inspires the next generation of tech builders.

    The Director-General pledged that the agency would provide advanced infrastructure through a modern studio, incubation centers for emerging technologies, and training to enhance content quality.

    Professional Film Directors Association’s President, Nasiru B. Muhammad, said the industry has struggled with an “unfriendly operational environment.” He requested NITDA’s assistance in developing AI-driven translation and subtitling software to help Kannywood films break into international markets.

    Read Also: NITDA: 28m social media accounts deactivated this year

    Two inventions showcased at the event caught the DG’s attention: PRev, a media intelligence software developed by Shuaib S. Agaka for news monitoring, and SchoolTra, an educational technology platform by Abdullahi Sani Mahuta designed for managing student records.

    Inuwa commended the developers, urging them to collaborate with other experts to increase products’ visibility and marketability on a national scale. The agency’s intervention is part of a strategy to grow the creative industry with technology and strengthen the country’s digital economy.

    The roundtable underscored the NITDA-PRNigeria Centre’s long-standing partnership. Yushau A. Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), said the centre has trained over 2,500 journalists and students from universities, polytechnics, and secondary schools in digital skills since 2021.

    As part of the 2026 roadmap, Shuaib announced plans to expand these training programs to focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. By integrating these high-tech tools into the creative and media sectors, NITDA aims to solidify Nigeria’s position as a leader in the African digital landscape.

    Stakeholders agreed on practical steps to reinforce innovation ecosystems, expand digital skills, support startups, and deepen collaboration between government, academia, and industry. They also committed to positioning the Northern region as a competitive hub for technology and future‑ready talent.

  • NITDA: 28m social media accounts deactivated this year

    NITDA: 28m social media accounts deactivated this year

    The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has said Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok collectively removed over 28 million accounts due to fraud, impersonation, and harmful activities in the past year.

    Abdullahi spoke yesterday in Abuja at a symposium on digital innovations in crisis communication organised by the Centre for Crisis Communication.

    The NITDA DG said the deactivations followed strengthened collaboration between the Federal Government and global tech companies to curb online harms and improve crisis response mechanisms.

    “In addition to account removals, more than 58.9 million pieces of harmful contents were taken down, while 420,000 were reinstated after reviews or appeals,” he said.

    The NITDA boss said Google alone shut down 9.68 million accounts associated with online scams, impersonation, and harmful contents, while LinkedIn deactivated nearly 16 million, a figure he described as “outrageous” for a platform built for professionals.

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    Abdullahi noted that LinkedIn’s numbers highlighted a growing trend of criminals exploiting professional platforms for social engineering, corporate impersonation, and targeted fraud.

    “LinkedIn is mostly a professional site. So, why are people using it to cause crises and other things?” he asked.

    “They use it for impersonation and for social engineering to defraud organisations and individuals.”

    The NITDA director general stressed the need for a transparent, standardised take-down, and reinstatement process that protects users — especially minority voices — while ensuring that content violating Nigerian laws is swiftly removed.

    He added that engagement with major tech platforms has improved regulatory compliance and supported Nigeria’s data protection reforms, including the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

  • 28 million social media account deactivated across major platforms – NITDA

    28 million social media account deactivated across major platforms – NITDA

    The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has revealed that Google, LinkedIn and TikTok collectively removed over 28 million accounts due to fraud, impersonation and harmful activity in the past year. 

    Abdullahi disclosed this on Monday at a symposium on digital innovations in crisis communication organised by the Centre for Crisis Communication, Abuja,

    Abdullahi noted that the deactivations followed strengthened collaboration between the Federal Government and global tech companies to curb online harms and improve crisis response mechanisms. 

    “In addition to account removals, more than 58.9 million pieces of harmful content were taken down, while 420,000 were reinstated after reviews or appeals,” he said. 

    According to the NITDA boss, Google alone shut down 9.68 million accounts associated with online scams, impersonation and harmful content, while LinkedIn deactivated nearly 16 million, a figure he described as “outrageous” for a platform built for professionals.

    Abdullahi noted that LinkedIn’s numbers highlight a growing trend of criminals exploiting professional platforms for social engineering, corporate impersonation and targeted fraud.

    “LinkedIn is mostly a professional site. So why are people using it to cause crises and other things?” he asked. 

    “They use it for impersonation and for social engineering to defraud organisations and individuals.”

    He stressed the need for a transparent, standardised take-down and reinstatement process that protects users, especially minority voices, while ensuring that content violating Nigerian laws is swiftly removed.

    The NITDA boss added that engagement with major tech platforms has improved regulatory compliance and supported Nigeria’s data protection reforms, including the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

    Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), emphasised that crisis communication has become a strategic national security priority, with real-time emergencies demanding equally real-time, verified responses. 

    He noted that tools such as AI, big data, mobile alerts and real-time monitoring are now essential for early-warning detection and countering misinformation

  • NITDA targets training of 50 million Nigerians in digital literacy by 2027

    NITDA targets training of 50 million Nigerians in digital literacy by 2027

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has drawn up a comprehensive digital literacy training programme for 50 million Nigerians by 2027.

    The Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this in Abuja shortly after the end of the 2025 Digital Nigeria Conference organised by the Agency at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    He said President Bola Tinubu has approved the accelerated implementation of the programme to pave the way for the socio-economic transformation of the country.

    Inuwa said the training programme, which is being implemented in three buckets together with critical stakeholders, would recalibrate Nigeria’s digital journey and ecosystems to boost Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ensure that citizens benefit maximally from the digital economy ecosystems.

    The NITDA boss, who spoke with reporters, said, “We are building our target to reach 70% by training 50 million Nigerians by 2027. And we are doing it in three buckets. Firstly, we’ve worked with the Ministry of Education.

    “We have developed a curriculum for digital literacy and skills. And the president has approved its implementation. Now we are training teachers across the country on how to start teaching digital literacy and skills in all our schools, from kindergarten to tertiary institutions.

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    “We’ve done pilot programmes with some universities, making digital literacy a general study in universities, the same way we take the English language.

    “Then the second bucket is that we are working with the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to train all public servants. So far, we have more than 30,000 public civil servants enrolled in our digital literacy training platform.

    “We are doing the same thing with states. Some states have already domesticated our digital literacy framework within their system. So we are partnering with them to train all workers.

    “Then we have the informal sector, where we are partnering with the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.  We have already created a CDA group under NYSC, where we recruit champions in NYSC camps. So, NYSC has three batches and six streams in a year.

    “So we recruit 80 champions in each stream in all states, plus the FCT. That means each state will have 80 times six champions. That’s 460 champions in a year.

    “Then we give each champion a target, at least to train two people on basic digital literacy every day. Then, in a month, the target is to train 60. In a year, we want every champion to train 600.

    “So when you multiply 460, that’s the number of champions in a state, times 37, you get 16,760 champions in a year across the country. When you multiply that by 600, you will get 10,300,000 plus. That means in a year, we’ll train 10,300,000 plus.

    “In three years, we’ll train 30 million. In the education sector, we are targeting 50 million because when you introduce digital literacy in our formal education, we have more than 50 million students in Nigeria. So we are targeting 50 million, making it 45 million, and we are targeting 5 million in the workforce.

    “So putting it together, our target is 50 million. And when we achieve that target, we’ll move from 50% to 70% digital literacy level by 2027”

    Speaking on the success of the Conference, Malam Inuwa explained that 25 states actively participated in the conference, while it recorded 4,400 participants altogether from 12 countries across the globe.

    He said the conference addressed issues of building infrastructures to connect the unconnected and ensure all citizens are brought on board the digital economic space, while adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) also dominated discussions during the programme.

    “We also have a track on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies because technology is disrupting our lives, everything we do. So we need to position ourselves because this technology is not going to replace you and I, but it will replace the skills we have and also the way we do our work.

    “So how can we position ourselves as a country to harness and benefit from these emerging technologies,” the Director General said.

  • NITDA, ICPC launch joint task force to tackle corruption in government IT projects

    NITDA, ICPC launch joint task force to tackle corruption in government IT projects

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have established a Joint Task Force on Digital Governance and Anti-Corruption to combat corruption in government IT projects and enforce compliance with Nigeria’s IT Project Clearance policy.

    The task force was inaugurated during a meeting between NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, and ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

    Abdullahi said the collaboration represents a renewed commitment by both agencies to align their efforts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He explained that the initiative is in line with the President’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy powered by digital transformation, improved ease of doing business, and the eradication of corruption as a barrier to sustainable development.

    The NITDA boss lamented that billions of naira had been lost over the years to failed or abandoned government IT projects, blaming the trend on some Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) that sidestepped the mandatory clearance process before embarking on technology procurements.

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    He said such practices have led to duplication of projects, inflated costs, poor technical standards, and in many cases, total project failure.

    ‎“These lapses have eroded public trust and wasted scarce resources that could have been deployed to improve service delivery and transparency,” the Director General said in a statement issued by the NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media, Hajiya Hadiza Umar.

    ‎The NITDA boss said the IT Project Clearance process was designed to prevent such waste and ensure that there is synergy in public investments, projects vetting, interoperability, and delivery of value for money.

    ‎Under the new initiative, the Joint Task Force will merge NITDA’s technical oversight with ICPC’s investigative and prosecutorial powers to ensure full compliance and accountability in public ICT investments.

    ‎Its mandate includes, “Enforcement of IT Clearance: Ensuring all FPIs obtain NITDA’s mandatory IT Project Clearance before commencing any technology-related project, with ICPC enforcing compliance where violations occur.

    ‎”Monitoring and Sanctioning: Jointly tracking IT project implementation and sanctioning defaulting agencies in line with extant regulations, and

    ‎”Integration of Enforcement Tools: Embedding NITDA’s monitoring instruments into ICPC’s anti-corruption frameworks, such as the System Study & Review, Ethics & Integrity Scorecard, and other tools to institutionalize compliance”.

    ‎The NITDA boss further emphasized that the IT Project Clearance framework serves as a national safeguard for responsible digital spending.

    ‎ “The IT Clearance Regulation is designed to ensure that government IT projects are properly conceptualized and executed in line with global best practices. It ensures value-for-money investments, reduces duplication, and creates a unified digital government,” he said.

    ‎In his remarks, ICPC Chairman Dr. Aliyu (SAN) hailed the collaboration as timely and essential for Nigeria’s digital future.

    ‎“Corruption in IT procurement undermines both public trust and economic progress. The Commission is ready to deploy its statutory powers to support NITDA’s mandate and hold both contractors and public officials accountable,” he said.

  • Fed Govt to implement fresh digital public infrastructure

    Fed Govt to implement fresh digital public infrastructure

    • NITDA plans smooth data exchange regulations

    Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has said the Federal Government will implement regulations guiding the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Technical Standard for Nigeria Data Exchange (NGDX) next year.

    He said the draft documents were under review, while discussions were on among stakeholders. These include Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to ensure the documents align with the digital development agenda of states and local governments.

    The NITDA chief spoke yesterday at a workshop with the theme: Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure Through Standards, Data Exchange, and e-Governance Transformation, at the Digital Economy Complex, Abuja.

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    Addressing stakeholders, Abdullahi said Nigeria, with a population of over 220 million, should have a unified, trusted, and credible data exchange platform for effective digital transactions in public and private sectors.

    Abdullahi, represented by the agency’s Director of e-Governance and Digital Economy, Dr. Salisu Kaka, noted that the government needed to get the governance structure of the draft documents right.

    He said: “We started this journey by dropping this instrument to ensure that we lay the foundation effectively with the right regulation, the right framework, and the right guideline.”

    Abdullahi said the regulatory bodies would ensure that stakeholders stayed on the same page while concluding the process.

    He said it is necessary to ensure the regulations are jointly owned for seamless implementation.

    Abdullahi noted that with contributions from stakeholders, implementation of the content of the documents would begin next year.

  • FG to begin implementation of digital public infrastructure, data exchange standards

    FG to begin implementation of digital public infrastructure, data exchange standards

    The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has announced that the implementation of regulations for the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Technical Standard for Nigeria Data Exchange (NGDX) will commence next year.

    Abdullahi explained that the draft documents are currently under review by key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), to ensure alignment with the digital development agendas of states and local governments.

    Speaking at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja, during a stakeholders’ review workshop on Thursday, Abdullahi highlighted the need for Nigeria, with its population of over 220 million, to adopt a unified, trusted, and credible data exchange platform for efficient digital transactions and services across public and private sectors.

    Represented by NITDA’s Director of e-Governance and Digital Economy, Dr. Salisu Kaka, he stressed the importance of establishing a robust governance structure for the draft documents to ensure smooth implementation.

    The workshop, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange, and E-Governance Transformation”, provided a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the draft frameworks.

    He said, “We started this journey by dropping this instrument to ensure that at least we lay the foundation effectively with the right regulation, the right framework, and the right guideline.”

    He said the regulatory bodies are working together to ensure that critical stakeholders are on the same page while concluding the process of the draft guidelines and regulations, emphasising that it was necessary to ensure the regulations are jointly owned for seamless implementation.

    Malam Abdullahi said that with robust contributions from all stakeholders, the implementation of the content of the documents would begin, possibly by the first quarter of next year.

    “So if states can model and reflect what happens internationally, then we can have a 360 view of the whole thing, and we can drive all of the government upwards, because we are working with a common standard, with common regulations, regardless of the autonomy of the state. So what is a model at the state level is a replica of what’s happening at the national level”, the NITDA boss said.

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    In his remarks, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the review of the draft documents “marks a significant step forward in our journey to build a digital Nigeria that is robust, trusted, inclusive, and globally competitive.”

    “The development of these frameworks could not be timelier. Digital Public Infrastructure is the foundation upon which efficient e-government services, secure payments, and trusted data exchange are built.

    “Around the world, countries that have invested in DPI are seeing improved service delivery, reduced transaction costs, and increased citizen trust. Nigeria has the opportunity to lead on the continent by designing systems that are both innovative and inclusive.

    “The Nigerian Data Exchange Technical Standard is also very significant. Data is the lifeblood of the digital economy, and the ability to exchange it securely, with privacy, integrity, and accountability, is what unlocks its full value.

    “When fully implemented, it can transform service delivery, enable real-time decision-making, and strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors,” Dr Olatunji said.

  • NITDA reviews standard for data exchange on unified, secure platforms

    NITDA reviews standard for data exchange on unified, secure platforms

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Thursday said it has concluded arrangements for stakeholders engagement on the review of standards for data exchange on unified and secure platforms for data sharing among public institutions and private entities. 

    According to NITDA, the public review session for the Draft Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Live Events and the Draft Technical Standard for the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) becomes necessary for robust contributions of all stakeholders to the draft. 

    The Director of Corporate Communications of the Agency, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, said the session would take place on the 18th of September, 2025 at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja.

    She said in a statement that the NITDA’s Rule-Making Process (RMP) aimed at co-creating regulatory instruments that are trusted, inclusive, and sustainable.

    She added that the steps taken on the matter would align Nigeria’s digital transformation with global best practices.

    Hajiya Umar explained that the Draft DPI Live Environment has been developed to support the seamless deployment of national digital public infrastructure, strengthen e-Government service delivery, and create a framework that fosters collaboration across the private sector.

    ” Alongside this, the Draft Technical Standard for the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) seeks to provide a unified and secure framework for data sharing across government institutions and private sector entities, streamline service delivery, reduce inefficiencies, and drive innovation across key sectors including finance, healthcare, education, and agriculture,” Umar said. 

    The agency further noted that the documents which were developed with strong safeguards around data protection, authentication, and privacy, align with globally accepted standards and position Nigeria as a leader in digital public infrastructure across Africa.

    “The public review will provide stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society with the opportunity to examine the draft documents, share feedback, and make recommendations that will shape the effective adoption and implementation of the initiatives. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the drafts ahead of the session via https://shorturl.at/0zRg8.

    Read Also: NITDA, NIPR extol IMPR for pioneering AI in public relations

    “Speaking ahead of the review, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasised the importance of inclusive stakeholder participation, stressing that Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure must be co-created with all stakeholders to ensure it embodies resilience, fosters innovation, and builds trust,” Umar further said. 

    She said the Director General of NITDA, Malam Abdullahi reiterated that the success of the initiatives depends on the active involvement of stakeholders in providing valuable insights that would guide implementation and ensure sustainability.

    “The Draft DPI and NGDX are integral to the Federal Government’s broader agenda of building a robust digital economy under the Renewed Hope vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

    “With support from international partners, particularly through the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, and technical collaboration with leading digital nations including Finland, Estonia, Germany, and France, Nigeria is positioning itself to harness the transformative power of digital public infrastructure for inclusive national development,” she said. 

  • NITDA, NIPR extol IMPR for pioneering AI in public relations

    NITDA, NIPR extol IMPR for pioneering AI in public relations

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) have commended Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR) Limited for its trailblazing role in deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) for public relations and fostering national intellectual growth through annual lecture and publications.

    The commendations were delivered by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, and NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, during the 3rd Economic Confidential Public Lecture and PRNigeria Book Presentation held in Abuja, attended by policymakers, academics, security chiefs, PR professionals, and digital specialists.

    Inuwa praised IMPR for pioneering the use of AI in audience analysis, media monitoring, content automation, event management, and crisis detection. AI, he said, presents Nigeria with a historic opportunity to skip development challenges, as automation could handle up to 30 percent of economic tasks and boost GDP growth by 20 percent. “Nigeria is not waiting for the future—we are building it now,” he declared. “By investing, innovating, and collaborating, we can turn the AI revolution into a Nigerian revolution of prosperity.”

    Inuwa outlined the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, highlighting the formulation of a National AI Strategy, restructuring of the National Centre for AI and Robotics, and support for over 45 AI startups under the Nigeria AI Research Scheme. He also cited global partnerships with Google and collaborations with Nigerian universities as critical to accelerating AI adoption.

    Speaking on behalf of NIPR, Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon called IMPR “a multi-award-winning PR agency renowned for innovation and vision.” He described the lecture theme—“Agenda for a Digital Global Economy”—as timely in an era where digital transformation is reshaping governance, trade, education, and healthcare. “Any nation that fails to embrace the digital revolution risks being left behind, while those that seize it can leapfrog barriers to growth and development,” he stated.

    Neliaku particularly lauded the unveiling of three new books at the event: Diplomacy and Digital Innovation: Youths’ Insights, Healing Nigeria: A Chronicle of Health Reform and Hope, and Renewed Hope in Central Banking. He depicted them as “not just books, but tools for shaping informed conversations and evidence-based decision-making.”

    The Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), applauded IMPR—the publisher of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, and Tech Digest—for sustaining the lecture series he characterised as a “platform that strengthens dialogue on economic reform, digital transformation, and professional excellence.”

    Reviewing the publications, Dr. Sule Yau Sule, Associate Professor of Strategic Communication and IMPR Board Chairman, hinted that nearly 70 percent of its staff have authored or co-authored books. He described ‘Renewed Hope in Central Banking’ by Rahma Olamide Oladosu as a lucid exploration of Nigeria’s monetary policy under CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso.

    Sule praised ‘Healing Nigeria’, by Lawal Dahiru Mamman and Maimuna Katuka Aliyu, for its incisive analysis of health reforms, outbreaks, mental health, and biotechnology, while ‘Diplomacy and Digital Innovation: Youths’ Insights’, by NYSC members Fatimah Yusuf Usman and Umar Farouk Bala, was extolled for capturing youth aspirations in diplomacy, digital transformation, and reflections on the “Japa” phenomenon.

    IMPR founder and Editor-in-Chief of Economic Confidential, Yushau A. Shuaib stressed the impact of AI in journalism and PR. He recalled the lecture’s previous editions focused on economic diversification in a cashless society (2023) and food security (2024); this year’s theme reflects Nigeria’s growing stake in the global digital economy. Shuaib announced the upcoming second edition of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship, which equips emerging communicators with skills in journalism, AI, and strategic media engagement.

    The event concluded with the bestowment of four “Economic Confidential Personalities of the Year” awards. The recipients: Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA DG, CEO of the Year for Digital Transformation; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, for Industrialisation and Solid Minerals Development; Amb. Yusuf M. Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for Economic Diplomacy and Regional Stability; and Dr. Zacch Adedeji, FIRS Chairman, for Championing Inter-Agency Cooperation.