NITDA, Governors’ Forum Forge Stronger Digital Partnership For Inclusive Growth
By FATIMA HUSSAINI
THE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration across all tiers of government to drive inclusive digital transformation and national development.
In a statement on Wednesday, NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and External Affairs, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, quoted the agency’s Director-General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, as making the call during a courtesy visit to the NGF Secretariat in Abuja.
Inuwa emphasised that achieving Nigeria’s digital vision requires collective commitment from the federal, state, and local governments to ensure technology-driven progress reaches every citizen.
“Our mandate is truly national, not just federal. We must embrace every level of government to make digital transformation inclusive and impactful,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s rapid digital evolution, Inuwa recalled that when NITDA was founded, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians used computers and ICT contributed less than 0.5 per cent to the GDP. Today, the country boasts over 130 million internet users, with ICT contributing over 17 per cent to the GDP.
He attributed this growth to effective partnerships between government institutions, private stakeholders, and development partners.
Inuwa reiterated NITDA’s vision of building a digitally empowered and prosperous nation, guided by its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP). He invited state governments to participate in NITDA’s upcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and the Digital Nigeria Conference, both aimed at promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing in digital governance.
“No one succeeds in isolation. We must function as a cohesive ecosystem to create prosperity and inclusivity through technology,” he said.
Responding, the NGF’s Director-General, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, described the engagement as a crucial step in aligning subnational governments with the federal digital economy agenda.
He commended NITDA’s leadership in advancing technology-driven reforms, stressing that digital transformation is not just about efficiency but also a national imperative for expanding economic opportunities and improving governance.
Shittu highlighted the NGF’s ongoing initiatives — including the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and the Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report — which are shaping reforms in digital identity, data exchange, payments, and trust systems.
“With strong partnerships and shared accountability, we can unlock a future where every Nigerian — urban or rural — has access to the tools and opportunities of the digital age,” Shittu said.
