NITDA DG Urges Governors to Drive Inclusive Growth Through Digital Collaboration

NITDA DG Urges Governors to Drive Inclusive Growth Through Digital Collaboration

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA October, 2025 -

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has called on state governors to partner more closely with the federal government in accelerating technology-driven development and inclusive growth across Nigeria. He made this appeal during a high-level visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja, where he emphasized that digital transformation must be a shared national vision rather than a federal initiative alone.

“Our mandate isn’t just federal—it’s truly national, which means it must embrace state and local governments,” Inuwa stated. He urged subnational leaders to embed NITDA’s digital initiatives within their state structures to ensure no region is left behind. Citing Nigeria’s digital leap—from under 500,000 computer users to over 130 million internet users—he noted that ICT’s contribution to the national GDP has grown from less than 0.5% to over 17%, largely due to strategic collaboration among government, private sector, and international partners.

Highlighting NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), Inuwa said the agency’s vision is to build a digitally empowered nation anchored on eight pillars, with digital literacy and talent development as top priorities. He explained that under the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), NITDA aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030 through initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and curriculum integration in schools nationwide. He also announced partnerships with the Head of the Civil Service and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train millions of Nigerians through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative.

“No one succeeds in isolation. We must work as an ecosystem to create prosperity and inclusivity through technology,” the DG said, inviting state governments to actively participate in NITDA’s upcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and Digital Nigeria Conference.

Responding, the Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, described the visit as a milestone for strengthening intergovernmental collaboration on digital governance. He commended NITDA’s leadership, noting that technology is now a central driver of competitiveness and inclusive growth. “With strong partnership 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 affirmed.