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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced a strategic partnership with Yakubu Gowon University (UniAbuja) to deepen technology research, strengthen innovation and develop locally relevant digital solutions capable of driving inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
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The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed the partnership when the management of Yakubu Gowon University, led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, paid a familiarisation visit to the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The partnership is expected to strengthen collaboration between government and academia in research and development, talent development and the application of emerging technologies to address real-world challenges across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
NITDA seeks stronger university research ecosystem
Abdullahi reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to expanding integrated research partnerships with Nigerian universities, stressing that increased investment in research is critical to building a technology-driven economy and positioning Nigeria for inclusive growth.
According to him, universities have a critical role to play in developing solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique socioeconomic challenges, while government agencies can provide the policy environment and institutional support needed to translate research into practical applications.
“We need to invest more in in-depth research with universities to build a robust research ecosystem that will help us develop solutions.”
He said research collaborations should focus on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud computing, among other technologies, to improve citizens’ lives and accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
AI education should cut across disciplines
The NITDA Director-General also called for the integration of artificial intelligence education across tertiary institutions, arguing that AI literacy should no longer be restricted to students studying computer science or technology-related disciplines.
He proposed that elements of AI should be incorporated into different fields of study to equip graduates with practical skills for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
“The only way to achieve that is working with institutions like yours. So, we need to build talent.”
Abdullahi added that NITDA could work with universities to explore ways of introducing AI as a general area of study across tertiary education.
“Elements of AI should be included in every field of study to equip our students with the hands-on skills for navigating the real world.”
NITDA expands digital skills partnerships
Abdullahi disclosed that NITDA is already working with key institutions within Nigeria’s education sector, including the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education.
He said the agency is pursuing initiatives aimed at embedding digital literacy programmes within curricula across different levels of education.
The objective, he explained, is to ensure that graduates leave educational institutions with practical digital competencies that improve their employability and readiness to meet industry requirements.
The initiative also aligns with NITDA’s broader vision of building a digitally empowered Nigeria by developing the human capital required to sustain the country’s digital transformation.
UniAbuja seeks digital infrastructure, research partnership
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, said the university’s visit was aimed at exploring opportunities for collaboration with NITDA, particularly in strengthening the institution’s digital infrastructure and technology-enabled educational training.
Fawehinmi expressed appreciation for NITDA’s contribution to the university’s Digital Geoscience Centre, while emphasising the institution’s willingness to deepen its engagement with the agency.
He said the university is interested in collaborating with NITDA on joint research projects, capacity-building programmes, innovation initiatives and other technology-driven programmes aligned with Nigeria’s socioeconomic development objectives.
“We could go into partnership with you to provide data, collaborative engagements, staff exchanges, joint research hubs, so that we can produce high-level human resources.”
According to him, the university is prepared to serve as a strategic academic partner to NITDA by providing the research expertise and human capital needed to support national digital transformation initiatives.
Building Nigeria’s technology talent pipeline
The proposed NITDA-UniAbuja collaboration highlights the growing importance of stronger links between Nigeria’s universities, government institutions and the technology industry.
For NITDA, deeper engagement with universities provides an avenue to expand the country’s technology talent pipeline while encouraging research that responds directly to national development priorities.
For universities, stronger government partnerships can provide access to digital infrastructure, research opportunities, capacity development, data and practical avenues for translating academic research into deployable solutions.
The collaboration between NITDA and Yakubu Gowon University therefore has the potential to contribute to a broader research and innovation ecosystem in which AI, IoT, blockchain, cybersecurity, cloud computing and other emerging technologies are applied to solving real-life challenges and advancing Nigeria’s digital economy.
