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NITDA Moves to Sustain Nigeria’s Global Digital Governance Recognition
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has inaugurated a Multistakeholder Coordination Group, marking a strategic step to deepen collaboration and sustain Nigeria’s rising profile in global digital governance.
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Speaking at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described Nigeria’s recent international recognition in digital governance as both an honour and a call to greater responsibility.
DG,NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi
“Recognition comes with responsibility. If the global community recognises what we are doing, it means we must do more to sustain that progress,” he said.
Policy Reforms Driving Digital Transformation
Abdullahi attributed Nigeria’s progress in digital transformation to deliberate investments in policy and regulatory frameworks, including the National E-Governance and Digital Economy Bill, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, as well as enabling instruments such as the Interoperability Framework and the Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture.
While these initiatives have strengthened Nigeria’s digital foundation, he stressed that sustaining progress requires stronger coordination and inclusive participation across government, the private sector and civil society—necessitating the creation of the Multistakeholder Coordination Group.
Inclusion and Digital Access Remain Critical
The NITDA boss emphasised inclusivity as a core pillar of Nigeria’s digital agenda, urging stakeholders to ensure that underserved communities, persons with disabilities, children and the elderly are not excluded from the country’s digital transformation journey.
According to him, improved connectivity and expanded digital literacy programmes remain critical enablers for achieving inclusive digital governance.
NITDA Saves ₦319bn Through IT Project Oversight
Highlighting regulatory achievements, Abdullahi disclosed that NITDA reviewed IT projects worth over ₦1.5 trillion across federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the past year, resulting in savings exceeding ₦319 billion.
However, he acknowledged persistent challenges, revealing that over 56 per cent of IT projects have historically failed to meet expectations due to poor planning and inadequate technical oversight. To address this, NITDA is introducing stricter guidelines focused on proper system design, professional certification and quality assurance.
Institutionalising Reforms and Ensuring Accountability
Abdullahi warned against reforms being driven by individuals rather than institutions, stressing the need to embed digital governance reforms sustainably. He aligned the initiative with the digital transformation agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for greater accountability in public sector digital initiatives.
“We need stakeholders to hold us accountable for what we promise to deliver,” he said.
Open Government Partnership Commends Initiative
Also speaking, Gloria Ahmed, National Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership Nigeria, commended NITDA for the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening collaboration across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
She noted that the move aligns with the principles of transparency, accountability and citizen participation, adding that technology remains central to building trust in governance.
Building on Global Recognition and Digital Public Infrastructure
Ahmed highlighted Nigeria’s achievements under the Open Government Partnership, including recognition at the 2025 Global Summit in Spain. She called for sustained momentum, pointing to the Fourth National Action Plan, which includes commitments on digital governance and the development of national Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
These initiatives include the Nigeria Data Exchange Platform, designed to improve coordination, data sharing and public service delivery. According to her, their success will depend on active collaboration among government, civil society and the private sector.
Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Governance Ecosystem
The inauguration of the Multistakeholder Coordination Group is expected to enhance cooperation among key stakeholders and reinforce Nigeria’s drive toward a more transparent, inclusive and digitally enabled governance system.
