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Tag: The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

  • NITDA reviews standard for data exchanges

    NITDA reviews standard for data exchanges

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Thursday said it had 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.

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    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.

    “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.

  • AI is thought partner, not a threat, NITDA DG tells CEOs

    AI is thought partner, not a threat, NITDA DG tells CEOs

    The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on Nigerian business leaders to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a strategic partner for innovation and productivity rather than viewing it as a threat to human employment.

    Speaking at the BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria in Lagos, during a panel titled “Builders of the New Nigeria – Stories of Scale, Grit, and Innovation,” Inuwa challenged conventional perceptions of AI, urging CEOs to view the technology as a “thought partner” that can generate new ideas, unlock business models, and enhance competitiveness in a fast-changing global economy.

    Inuwa explained that while AI can outperform humans in certain tasks, it is not intended to replace people. Rather, it will displace specific skills and processes currently relied on in performing various tasks. He advised business leaders to collaborate with AI by assigning it clear roles such as virtual assistants, legal advisors, or business analysts to drive more effective and purposeful integration.

    However, he cautioned that while AI holds immense potential, it must be used with vigilance. Business leaders, he warned, should not assume AI is always accurate or ethical. Inuwa highlighted the need for strong regulatory oversight and explained that NITDA’s approach involves collaborating with the private sector to test and co-create solutions through “policy labs” before rolling out frameworks or regulations.

    This progressive approach, according to him, enables NITDA to develop evidence-based policies that promote innovation while ensuring public safety. Rather than imposing blanket restrictions out of fear, the agency encourages experimentation with emerging technologies in safe, controlled environments, gaining insights that inform future regulatory frameworks.

    The CEO Forum brought together influential business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders to discuss strategies for resilience, growth, and innovation in Nigeria’s economic landscape. Panelists shared personal stories of perseverance and examined how digital technologies like AI, mobile payments, and data analytics are reshaping business in Nigeria.

    In another session of the forum, Inuwa delivered a presentation titled “Nigeria’s Journey to a Digital Economy,” where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to digital literacy as the foundation for economic growth, social inclusion, and national prosperity.

    He stressed that digital literacy goes beyond just knowing how to use devices and apps. “It is about empowering individuals to access opportunities, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to the economy,” Inuwa noted, highlighting the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative, a national programme that aims to achieve 70 percent digital literacy across the population by 2027.

    The DL4ALL Initiative, he explained, targets all Nigerians—including students, civil servants, traders, and people in underserved communities—through mobile literacy campaigns, training hubs, and digital learning platforms. The goal is to equip every Nigerian with the skills required to succeed in a modern, tech-driven economy.

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    Reflecting on the country’s digital evolution, Inuwa traced Nigeria’s journey from the early 2000s when less than 500,000 people had access to computers, and the ICT sector contributed less than 0.5 percent to GDP. Today, over 130 million Nigerians have internet access, and the ICT sector contributes more than 17 percent to the nation’s GDP.

    The Director General cited milestones such as the introduction of the National IT Policy in 2001, the NITDA Act in 2007, and a strategic shift in 2012 toward integrating ICT into public and private life. By 2019, Nigeria had progressed beyond basic ICT usage to deploying digital technologies for national economic growth.

    Inuwa also aligned these achievements with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which positions digital innovation at the heart of Nigeria’s economic diversification and reform efforts. He said the agenda identifies digital transformation as essential in accelerating development across sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, governance, and creative industries.

    According to Inuwa, technology is not just an enabler but a catalyst for change. It helps simplify processes, increases efficiency, and drives transformation across critical sectors. He noted that Tinubu’s reforms offer a timely opportunity for Nigeria to harness the full potential of digital tools in building a more inclusive and resilient economy.

    He reminded business leaders and policymakers that economic reform must not be viewed as a fixed destination but as an ongoing journey of adaptation and innovation. Reforming the economy, he said, requires continuous improvement, a willingness to embrace new tools, and strategic partnerships that promote inclusive growth.

    Outlining NITDA’s roadmap for digital transformation, Inuwa identified the key pillars: promoting digital literacy and talent development; expanding access to digital infrastructure and services; strengthening legal and policy frameworks; enhancing cybersecurity and digital trust; supporting research and innovation; fostering entrepreneurship and building public-private partnerships, and cultivating an agile and forward-thinking workforce.

    The DG emphasized that these pillars are not abstract ideas but actionable strategies designed to ensure inclusive development and digital competitiveness. He concluded by stating that Nigeria’s future success depends largely on how well it prepares its people to thrive in a digital world.

    If properly executed, Inuwa said, the country’s digital strategy will not only create jobs and boost innovation but also secure Nigeria’s place as a global leader in the digital economy. Equipping citizens with digital skills, he noted, is no longer optional—it is imperative for sustainable national development.

  • NITDA, others seek policies for digital access

    NITDA, others seek policies for digital access

    By Motunrayo Akintunde

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Meta (Facebook’s parent company), Action Against Child Sexual Abuse Initiative (ACSAI) and others have pushed for more action on digital access and online safety.

    The experts made the call during an Online Safety Forum organised by the Techsocietal Social Enterprise in Lagos. The forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, policymakers, and experts with theme: Connected and Protected: Ensuring Digital Access for All.

    The event highlighted the need for digital access, literacy, and safety, particularly for women and children in Nigeria.

    Acting Director of Regulations and Compliance at NITDA, Emmanuel Edet, stressed the need for robust local policies regulating digital access.

     “Providing access isn’t a problem, but providing meaningful digital access is the challenge,” he said during the opening panel discussion.

    Edet urged policymakers to engage in dialogue with tech communities to enhance understanding of local online safety concerns.

    A panel session entitled: “Building Stronger Partnerships for Platform Accountability: A Collaborative Approach to a Safer Digital Ecosystem” further emphasized the necessity for accountability among digital platforms. Speakers, including the Executive Director of Techsocietal, Temitope Ogundipe, and Head of Safety Policy for Meta in Africa, Sylvia Musalagani, called for collaboration among civil society, government, tech companies, and researchers.

    “Transparency and accountability are vital for building user trust,” Ogundipe said, highlighting the need for partnerships to address issues such as misinformation, online violence, and privacy breaches.

    Program Director at ACSAI, Juliet Ohahuru Obiora, stressed the importance of leveraging technology to protect children. “Educating children sometimes isn’t enough, that is why we have to have other remedies especially using the same technology to see that we are providing some level of protection for children,” she explained, advocating for multi-faceted approaches to safeguard young users.

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    Senior Manager at Paradigm Initiative, Adeboye Adegoke, echoed the same sentiment by calling for a comprehensive approach to digital literacy. “It’s not just about teaching people how to operate a computer; it’s about equipping them with the knowledge and context to use it safely,” he noted.

    The forum included workshops aimed at enhancing online safety and protecting youth from online risks, particularly online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA). As children’s engagement with digital platforms increases, safeguarding them from harmful content has become a critical priority.

    A hotline for reporting child sexual abuse materials was introduced, underscoring the roles of parents, educators, civil society, law enforcement, and government in ensuring digital safety.

    Speakers from organizations such as the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), TechHerNG, and Paradigm Initiative showcased successful initiatives aimed at promoting digital inclusion and safety for vulnerable populations.

    Ogundipe stressed the commitment of Techsocietal to reducing digital inequalities, adding that it has been instrumental in empowering marginalized groups by promoting safety and human rights online. This year’s forum focused on the challenges and opportunities in navigating Nigeria’s digital landscape, with an emphasis on safeguarding end users.