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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and North West University have commenced discussions on a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening digital capacity, research, innovation and technology-driven education at the institution.
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The engagement, which brought together the university’s management and NITDA leadership, focused on how digital technologies could be more effectively deployed to improve teaching, research, innovation and graduate employability.
The proposed partnership is also expected to create opportunities for cooperation in digital infrastructure, emerging technologies, computer-based testing, open and distance learning, research and human capital development.
NITDA Calls for Sustainable Digital Transformation in Universities
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the proposed collaboration should go beyond isolated interventions and focus on building sustainable outcomes.
He described universities as critical institutions in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey because of their role in producing the skilled workforce, knowledge and research required to support technological advancement.
According to Abdullahi, Nigeria’s digital development agenda must place greater emphasis on strengthening institutions and developing the human capital needed to drive the digital economy.
The NITDA boss said the success of digital transformation in the education sector should not be measured simply by the number of computers or devices supplied to universities.
Rather, he argued that investments in skills, knowledge, research and innovation would have more sustainable long-term benefits.
“Equipment will eventually become outdated, but investments in knowledge, skills, research and innovation will continue to produce benefits,” he said.
NITDA Seeks Stronger University-Industry Collaboration
Abdullahi identified the gap between university education and industry requirements as a major challenge affecting graduate employability.
He urged universities to build stronger relationships with employers, technology companies and other private-sector players to ensure that academic programmes respond to changing labour market demands.
According to him, academic curricula should be regularly reviewed to expose students to emerging technologies and practical skills relevant to both Nigerian and international job markets.
“We need to create an ecosystem where the university produces the human capital required by government and the private sector, while industry also contributes to the development of relevant skills and research,” Abdullahi said.
He encouraged North West University to integrate digital literacy into its General Studies programme in line with NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework.
AI, Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing Identified as Key Areas
Beyond basic digital literacy, the NITDA Director-General urged the university to strengthen programmes in emerging technology fields.
These include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, robotics and other areas expected to play increasingly important roles in the global economy.
Abdullahi also advised the institution to leverage the National Universities Commission’s Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards framework to develop academic programmes that reflect technological developments and emerging economic opportunities.
He cited the collaboration involving NITDA, Nasarawa State University and Cisco as an example of how partnerships between academia, government and industry could provide students with practical exposure, professional certifications and academic recognition.
Proposed Partnership to Focus on Research and Innovation
The proposed collaboration between NITDA and North West University is also expected to extend to research and innovation.
Abdullahi said research projects should increasingly focus on addressing real-world challenges and creating solutions with practical applications.
He advocated the early involvement of government agencies and private-sector organisations in university research, noting that this could improve the transition of research findings from laboratories and classrooms into practical products and services.
Technical training, innovation laboratories, research collaboration and partnerships with global technology companies were identified as potential areas of NITDA’s support.
The approach could help strengthen the connection between academic research, technological innovation and Nigeria’s broader digital economy ambitions.
North West University Pursues 21st-Century Digital Transformation Agenda
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of North West University, Professor Amina Salihi, said her administration had placed digital transformation and research at the centre of the institution’s development agenda.
She said the university’s 14-point agenda was designed to reposition the institution as a competitive 21st-century university, with technology playing a central role in improving academic standards, global visibility and institutional ranking.
Professor Salihi said the university had recorded significant growth since its establishment in 2012.
According to her, the institution has expanded from four faculties, one campus and about 1,000 students to 10 faculties and approximately 30,000 students.
The expansion has also included improvements in infrastructure, academic programmes and support facilities, including a teaching hospital supporting the university’s medical programme.
CBT Centre, Open Learning and Digital Infrastructure on Agenda
The Vice-Chancellor, who assumed office in December 2025, said her administration had conducted assessments to identify areas requiring urgent intervention.
Infrastructure, power and digital technology were identified as key priorities.
She disclosed that construction of a Computer-Based Testing centre was underway through the intervention of a philanthropist.
Professor Salihi appealed to NITDA to support the project with the necessary IT equipment, noting that the facility could potentially be developed into an accredited centre for recruitment examinations, professional tests and other computer-based assessments.
The university is also planning to establish an Open and Distance Learning Centre, an initiative that will require reliable digital infrastructure and technical support.
She further appealed for additional digital devices, including laptops, to strengthen academic and administrative operations across the institution.
Solar Projects to Support University Infrastructure
Professor Salihi said the university had benefited from interventions by the state government, TETFund, the Energy Commission and private philanthropists.
She noted that these interventions had supported areas including student accommodation and renewable energy.
A two-megawatt solarisation project is currently being implemented at the university’s main campus, while another solar power project is underway at the city campus.
The projects are expected to support the institution’s broader efforts to improve infrastructure and address energy challenges affecting academic and administrative activities.
NITDA-North West University Partnership Targets Digital Education Growth
The ongoing discussions between NITDA and North West University are expected to lead to a structured partnership covering several areas of digital development.
Potential areas of cooperation include digital infrastructure, computer-based testing, open and distance learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, robotics, research, innovation and digital skills development.
Both institutions are expected to continue discussions to define specific areas of collaboration and develop a sustainable framework for implementation.
If successfully developed, the partnership could strengthen North West University’s capacity to produce graduates with more relevant digital skills while expanding opportunities for research and technology-driven innovation.
The engagement also reflects a broader push by NITDA to deepen collaboration between government, academia and industry as Nigeria seeks to build the human capital and institutional capacity required for an increasingly digital economy.
