In order to propel Nigeria’s digital transformation, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has urged for increased industry collaboration, highlighting innovation and policy as crucial facilitators of sustainable growth.

Inuwa stated that through concerted efforts among stakeholders, Nigeria has the potential to become a global digital powerhouse at The Omniverse Summit 2025, which was held in Lagos and was represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships.
With more than 55% of the population using the internet and the digital economy expected to account for more than 20% of GDP by 2030, Nigeria’s tech sector is expanding at a rate never seen before, according to Inuwa, who cites domestic fintech behemoths like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint as instances of how innovation is drawing billions of dollars in investment and transforming financial services.
Beyond fintech, Inuwa noted, new technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are influencing important industries like education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance.

He stated that NITDA is dedicated to promoting innovation through investments in R&D, talent development, and startup support systems in order to close the digital divide and improve digital literacy in order to maintain this momentum.
The DG emphasized the significance of regulatory frameworks like the Nigeria Startup Act, which offers an organized method of fostering innovation, acknowledging that no digital economy can prosper without adaptive policies.

In order to ensure a regulatory environment that protects consumers and permits businesses to grow, he emphasized NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework, which bases its policies on dynamism, intelligence, and awareness.
The DG also emphasized the need for improved cybersecurity frameworks, more robust data protection laws, and AI governance plans that encourage the responsible use of technology.
He claimed that cooperation is what holds innovation and policy together to create real progress. Nigeria’s digital transformation has already benefited greatly from public-private partnerships; recent alliances between the Federal Government and major international tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta highlight the value of synergy.

The partnership focuses on infrastructure development, citizen upskilling, AI innovation, cloud adoption, and investment framework enhancement, he said, adding that the recent agreement between the federal government and Google is expected to turn Nigeria into a global tech hub. In addition to meeting local needs, this cooperative approach guarantees that digital policies and initiatives are in line with international best practices.
NITDA’s ongoing programs, like the Digital Literacy for All program in collaboration with the NYSC, which aims to attain 70% digital literacy by 2027, were also highlighted by Inuwa. He asserts that fostering closer ties between academia and industry will help close the knowledge gap between theory and practice and guarantee a workforce with digital skills.
Nigeria’s active membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he continued, offers tremendous potential to establish the nation as a regional center for digital trade and services. By coordinating digital trade regulations and utilizing strategic alliances, Nigeria can open up new markets and draw in more foreign capital.
In order to make sure that digital transformation is not only a vision but also a reality that propels sustainable economic development, the DG reaffirmed that Nigeria’s digital transformation calls for audacious choices, creative thinking, and strategic alliances.
As this summit is theme puts it, we are genuinely “Unified by Vision and Empowered by Collaboration.” “Let us take advantage of this opportunity to create a Nigeria where technology empowers all citizens, businesses, and sectors, acting as an equalizer,” he said.