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As Nigeria fast-tracks its digital transformation agenda, the integration of technology into governance has become essential for improving transparency, efficiency, and citizen trust. At the 2025 ITGOV Conference—organized by Tranter IT in collaboration with ManageEngine—key stakeholders from across the public and private sectors convened to discuss how digital solutions are revolutionizing public service delivery. Among the thought leaders at the event was Dr. Femi Adeluyi, Technical Assistant to the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). In this exclusive interview, Dr. Adeluyi offers valuable insights into how digital governance is helping Nigeria reduce waste, fight systemic inefficiencies, and build a more just and responsive public sector. He also underscores the pivotal role of a digitally driven economy in shaping Nigeria’s sustainable development and global competitiveness. Adeluyi shares with IT Edge News.Africa, Nana Theresa Timothy.
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During your session, you touched on how digitization reduces waste and injustice in governance. Could you elaborate on that?
Absolutely. Let’s start with something simple — photocopying. Traditionally, if someone wanted access to a document, they’d need physical copies, which means paper, ink, and machines — all of which cost money and generate waste. But with digitization, that same document can be stored once and accessed by multiple people simultaneously from any location. That’s instant efficiency and a huge reduction in waste.
Beyond that, digital systems remove ambiguity from processes. When decisions are data-driven, there’s far less room for personal bias or manipulation. Processes become transparent and traceable, so we can go back and audit how decisions were made. This dramatically reduces the chance for injustice or arbitrary decision-making in public service. That’s the power of digital transformation.
“Digital transformation is not optional anymore. It is essential to the survival, sustainability, and sovereignty of our nation.”
Future of Nigeria’s economy is digital
You also mentioned that the future of Nigeria’s economy is digital. What do you mean by that?
Think about how we interact with banks today. Years ago, visiting a branch physically was the only way to carry out transactions. Now, many of us haven’t stepped inside a bank in months — or even years — because digital platforms allow us to do almost everything on our phones or computers.
That same transformation is happening — or should happen — across every sector: from agriculture to health, logistics, and education. When COVID-19 hit, countries that had digitized key services adapted more quickly. People could work remotely, shop online, and access health and education platforms from home.
If Nigeria wants to remain competitive and serve its citizens efficiently, our economy must be built on digital systems. It’s not just a trend — it’s the future.
How do you see IT solutions, like the ones presented by ManageEngine, helping to run a more efficient government?
Tools from providers like ManageEngine offer enterprise-level solutions that can streamline government operations — whether it’s managing IT assets, monitoring network infrastructure, or ensuring service delivery through unified platforms. When you digitize internal workflows in ministries or agencies — like HR, procurement, or service management — it saves time, reduces corruption, and increases accountability. More importantly, these tools enable data collection and analysis. That means agencies can make smarter decisions based on real-time insights, which leads to better outcomes for citizens.
“The sooner we embrace it in every layer of government, the sooner Nigerians will experience a more transparent, efficient, and equitable public service system.”
Level of transformation within government agencies
As of today, how far has Nigeria come in terms of digital penetration and transformation within government agencies?
It’s a good question — and also a complex one. It’s difficult to give an exact number or percentage right now. But what I can tell you is that at NITDA, we’ve launched a Digital Transformation Working Group across several MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies). These groups consist of trained personnel who serve as digital transformation champions within their respective institutions.
They help implement strategies, report on progress, and most importantly, provide feedback. We’re currently working on aggregating this data to create a national baseline for digital maturity in government. Once that’s complete, we’ll have measurable benchmarks to track our progress over time.
With NITDA spearheading digital policy and regulation, what should Nigerians expect next from the agency?
NITDA is working hard to standardize digital transformation across all sectors. Our mandate includes not only developing IT infrastructure but also ensuring cybersecurity, data protection, and capacity building. We are also focused on policy frameworks that support a digital economy — from the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) to implementing the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
We want to build an ecosystem where digital literacy, access to infrastructure, and affordable technology are not luxuries but everyday realities — especially for the youth and underserved communities. That’s how we’ll close the gap and build an inclusive digital future for all Nigerians.
