By 
By Osasome, C.O
NITDA Urges Stronger Digital Trust as Nigeria Accelerates Transformation
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for a renewed national focus on digital trust and confidence as Nigeria intensifies its digital transformation agenda.
RELATED: NDPC calls for stronger data protection accountability at WACC 2026
Speaking at the West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) 2026 in Lagos, Abdullahi stressed that trust is no longer a peripheral issue but the core currency of Nigeria’s digital economy, underpinning innovation, investment, and citizen adoption of technology.
Delivering an Executive Regulatory Insight titled “Digital Convergence and the Confidence Mandate: NITDA’s Vision for a Competitive, Innovative and Trusted Nigeria IT Ecosystem,” Abdullahi said effective digital reform must be matched by strong regulatory oversight to ensure confidence across the ecosystem.
Why Digital Reform Now Requires Stronger Regulatory Scrutiny
According to Abdullahi, as digital platforms scale rapidly, weak governance could undermine hard-won progress. While technology enables speed, efficiency, and inclusion, it also amplifies risks if trust frameworks fail.
“The trust mandate is the least visible part of our work, yet it anchors everything else. Without trust, every digital initiative is built on sand,” he said.
He noted that digital trust determines whether:
- Farmers adopt digital payments,
- Health workers share data via telemedicine platforms,
- Startups attract foreign capital, and
- Citizens embrace digital government services.
With approximately 60 per cent of Nigeria’s venture capital inflows coming from the United States, Abdullahi said regulatory certainty is critical to sustaining investor confidence.
Three Pillars of NITDA’s ‘Confidence Mandate’
Abdullahi outlined three regulatory pillars guiding NITDA’s approach:
1. Standards and Data Protection
NITDA’s mandate under its establishing Act empowers it to issue standards, codes of practice, and coordinate IT governance nationwide. This role has been strengthened by the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which enhances oversight of personal data, automated decision-making, and accountability for large digital platforms.
“We are not creating barriers; we are creating certainty for responsible operators and protection for citizens,” he said.
2. Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience
Through its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (NITDA-CERRT), the agency provides institutional defence against rising cyber threats. Regulatory guidelines aligned with the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy are being updated to address emerging risks, including those introduced by artificial intelligence.
3. Developmental Regulation
Abdullahi described NITDA’s regulatory philosophy as developmental regulation—balancing control with innovation. Programmes such as iHATCH, NITDA’s incubation and acceleration initiative, aim to close the gap between regulation and startup growth.
From Participation to Definition in the Digital Economy
Reflecting on NITDA’s evolution, Abdullahi said Nigeria’s digital landscape has fundamentally changed.
“In 2001, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians had ever used a computer. Today, over 130 million Nigerians are online, and ICT contributes more than 14 per cent of GDP,” he noted.
He said this growth has shifted Nigeria’s role from merely participating in the digital economy to helping define it, placing greater responsibility on regulators to anticipate risks and guide innovation responsibly.
Digital Convergence Raises the Stakes for Regulation
Abdullahi explained that digital convergence—where AI, cloud computing, advanced connectivity, and data sovereignty intersect—has transformed every sector, from agriculture and health to finance and public administration.
For regulators, convergence presents both opportunity and obligation.
“If regulatory frameworks cannot keep pace with converging technologies, we create gaps that undermine trust and stifle innovation,” he warned.
He noted that NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2.0) was designed as a living framework to respond dynamically to these shifts, covering policy, infrastructure, innovation, digital public infrastructure, trade, and partnerships.
Human Capital and AI as Trust Builders
Abdullahi highlighted NITDA’s human capital drive, particularly the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, describing it as one of Africa’s most ambitious digital skills initiatives.
Through three cohorts, 3MTT fellows now span all 774 local government areas, with 67 per cent of the first 30,000 graduates securing jobs or career advancement within six months.
Beyond skills, he said Nigeria is increasingly becoming an AI producer, not just a consumer. He cited the launch of N-ATLAS, Nigeria’s first government-backed large language model supporting local languages, unveiled at the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
Why Trust-Centred Regulation Is Now Critical
Abdullahi concluded that as digital reform accelerates through technology, regulatory scrutiny must deepen to protect users, attract investment, and sustain innovation.
“Regulation must be both rule-based and adaptive. You install traffic lights only after understanding traffic patterns,” he said.
He added that closer collaboration among regulators, policymakers, innovators, and investors would be essential to building a resilient, globally competitive digital economy.
WACC 2026 Reinforces Policy Influence
WACC 2026 once again demonstrated its growing influence as a policy-shaping platform for Nigeria’s digital economy, bringing together political leadership, regulators, investors, and technology innovators.
The 15th edition of WACC featured a high-level colloquium headlined by Professor Nentawe Yilwatda. He delivered the keynote address, while Armstrong Ume Takang, Managing Director and CEO of Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), provided an investment-focused perspective.
Broad Institutional Recognition at WACC 2026
NITDA was recognised among the 50 Most Influential Figures in Nigeria’s Digital Economy (Institutional Category), reflecting its expanding role in shaping trust-driven digital governance.
Other institutions recognised at WACC 2026 include Wema Bank, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), MOFI, Galaxy Backbone, Digital Realty, PFS Ltd, and Switch Solutions, alongside individuals acknowledged for shaping Nigeria’s digital economy trajectory.
