Renewable Energy and Digital Innovation Key to Rural Prosperity — NITDA DG

Renewable Energy and Digital Innovation Key to Rural Prosperity — NITDA DG

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA October, 2025 -

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has emphasised that renewable energy and technology are critical enablers of inclusive growth and sustainable transformation in Nigeria’s rural communities. Speaking as a panellist at the Civil Society Policy Forum during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., Inuwa described renewable energy as a “fundamental catalyst” for digital inclusion and economic empowerment.

“Renewable energy is not the destination. It is a catalyst — when there is power, connectivity follows, and that connectivity triggers true transformation,” Inuwa stated. He highlighted how clean energy and digital access can change rural livelihoods, noting that a farmer with an AI-powered app can double productivity, while a youth with internet access can work remotely and earn globally without leaving their community.

Inuwa linked these interventions to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises sustainability and inclusivity. He explained that Nigeria’s digital economy strategy rests on five key pillars — knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade — while NITDA’s eight strategic pillars include digital literacy, research, cybersecurity, and partnerships. He disclosed that digital literacy is now integrated into Nigeria’s education curriculum and that competency in digital skills has become a prerequisite for civil service employment and promotion.

According to him, NITDA aims to train 50 million Nigerians in digital skills by 2027, creating a workforce equipped to drive national transformation. “Our vision is clear, our journey is set, and our resolve is stronger than ever. We invite everyone to join us in building a digitally empowered and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Fowzia Hassan, Senior Operations Officer at the World Bank Group, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding energy access across Africa through the Mission 300 (M300) initiative, which targets 300 million new electricity connections by 2030. She stressed the importance of gender inclusion in the energy sector, calling for policies that promote women’s participation in technical and leadership roles to ensure an equitable and sustainable energy transition.