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NITDA DG Takes Nigeria’s Digital Agenda to Global Stage
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has highlighted Nigeria’s digital infrastructure priorities at the closing keynote panel of the Datacloud Global Congress 2026, held in Cannes, France.
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Abdullahi joined global policymakers and industry leaders to discuss “The Role of Digital Infrastructure in National Economies,” underscoring Nigeria’s strategy to leverage technology as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.
Global Leaders Discuss Digital Infrastructure and Economic Growth
The high-level panel was moderated by Mehdi Paryavi, Chairman and CEO of the International Data Center Authority (IDCA). Other panellists included Ali Amur Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, as well as senior executives from IDCA.
Discussions focused on the role of digital infrastructure in national economic development, artificial intelligence strategy, digital sovereignty, workforce development, and long-term competitiveness.
Digital Infrastructure as a Pillar of Nigeria’s Economic Transformation
Speaking at the session, Abdullahi described digital infrastructure as a foundational enabler of productivity, innovation, and sustainable development.
He noted that Nigeria’s digital push aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification through digitalisation and technology-led growth.
According to the NITDA DG, strategic investments in cloud computing, broadband connectivity, data centres, and emerging technologies are central to positioning Nigeria as a leading digital economy in Africa.
National Cloud Policy and Digital Sovereignty
Abdullahi highlighted Nigeria’s National Cloud Policy, which promotes cloud adoption across government institutions while prioritising the local hosting of government data.
According to his explanation, the policy seeks to strengthen digital sovereignty while enhancing public service delivery. Furthermore, it is designed to stimulate the domestic cloud ecosystem and build trust in digital platforms.
To support this vision, NITDA has established a Technical Working Group comprising ecosystem players, industry stakeholders, and hyperscalers.
The group is tasked with developing technical standards and strengthening governance frameworks. It is also responsible for mobilising the investments needed to accelerate Nigeria’s sovereign cloud adoption.
Investment Opportunities and Nigeria’s Competitive Advantage
Abdullahi emphasised the need for increased investment in broadband expansion, cloud infrastructure, data centres, and artificial intelligence. He stated that such investments are essential to unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy potential.
He noted that improved broadband penetration and deliberate policy implementation remain critical to enabling scalable digital services and driving innovation.
In his remarks, Abdullahi highlighted Nigeria’s position as an emerging digital investment destination. He pointed to key assets including a large and youthful population, a growing digital talent base, and a vibrant innovation ecosystem.
The NITDA boss also emphasised ongoing reforms designed to foster an enabling environment for digital infrastructure investments.
Commitment to Global Partnerships
Reaffirming Nigeria’s openness to collaboration, Abdullahi stated that the country remains committed to fostering strategic partnerships and mobilising investments.
These efforts aim to accelerate the development of cloud infrastructure, connectivity, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure.
These efforts, he said, will strengthen Nigeria’s position as a globally competitive digital economy.
