The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has stressed the need for stronger collaboration with state governments, saying sub-national alignment is vital to achieving Nigeria’s digital economy goals.
He made the call while speaking virtually at the South-South Regional ICT Stakeholders Forum, where policymakers, tech leaders and civil society groups discussed strategies to accelerate digital development in the region.
Inuwa said that although NITDA has made progress at the federal level, success ultimately depends on how effectively national policies are implemented by states. He emphasised that digital transformation can only be sustained when states domesticate policies and establish clear implementation frameworks.
He cited the Nigerian Startup Act and the National Digital Literacy Framework as key instruments guiding the sector, noting that some states still lack comprehensive enabling laws and structured governance mechanisms. He assured that NITDA is ready to provide technical support to strengthen state-level digital ecosystems.
Highlighting digital literacy as central to inclusive growth, Inuwa said NITDA targets 95 per cent nationwide digital literacy by 2030. In partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, digital skills have been integrated into school curricula, with teachers undergoing capacity-building programmes.
He also disclosed that over 54,000 federal civil servants have enrolled in structured digital skills training in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, adding that similar initiatives may be extended to South-South states.
On partnerships, the NITDA boss highlighted collaborations with Cisco and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to expand access to digital courses and grassroots sensitisation, urging stakeholders to strengthen coordination to boost inclusion.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation in Cross River State, Dr Justin Atiang Beshel, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to broadband expansion and digital infrastructure. Despite challenges such as rural connectivity gaps and funding constraints, he expressed confidence that sustained investment and partnerships with NITDA and private sector players would position Cross River as a competitive digital hub.
