By The future of Nigeria’s prosperity would increasingly be determined by its ability to harness technology, innovation, and human capital rather than reliance on natural resources.
According to the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Dr. Kashifu Inuwa that explains the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging innovation, digital skills, and emerging technologies to accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a globally competitive digital economy.
Inuwa who spoke at the Port Harcourt Tech Expo 2026, stated that the global digital economy presents unprecedented opportunities for Africa and Nigeria to create jobs, attract investments, and improve productivity through emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital platforms.
The NITDA boss who was represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, at the two-day event themed “Syntropy: Collective Futures – Systems, Solutions, Synergy and Societies.”, said: “The future is not something we inherit; it is something we build. Nigeria’s greatest resource is not oil but its people. Our ability to develop digital talent, foster innovation, and create enabling ecosystems will determine our competitiveness in the digital age,”.
He noted that AI and digital technologies are rapidly transforming industries across the world and urged stakeholders to embrace innovation as a catalyst for economic diversification and sustainable development.
The keynote also underscored the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, development partners, and the startup ecosystem to unlock the immense potential of Nigeria’s youthful population.
During the event, NITDA engaged with technology companies, startups, innovation hubs, academic institutions, and development partners on potential areas of collaboration aimed at advancing digital inclusion and innovation-led development.
The Agency also used the platform to amplify the several of its flagship initiatives, including the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and programmes under the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI).
Observers at the event commended NITDA’s leadership in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and noted the growing impact of the Agency’s interventions in supporting startups, promoting digital literacy, and strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem.
As Nigeria continues its digital transformation journey, NITDA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering partnerships, developing talent, enabling innovation, and creating a technology-driven economy that delivers sustainable prosperity for all citizens.
