By The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) have signed a strategic partnership to with other ecosystem players, both local and international, for a large-scale national digital infrastructure programme aimed at transforming Nigeria into a fully integrated digital economy ecosystem.
The partnership is in line with the Nigerian Sovereign Cloud initiative, which aims to establish an execution-led, investment-driven framework that brings together infrastructure deployment, regulatory standards, and workforce development into a unified national platform designed to mobilise both public and private capital and accelerate long-term economic value creation.
A statement issued by the Director, Corporate Communications of NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar and the Global Head of Strategic Services and Head of Europe & Africa of the IDCA, Solomon Edun noted that at the centre of the program is the “Nigeria Digital Triangle (NDT)”, a network of strategically located hyperscale, AI-enabled data center clusters intended to anchor investment, host global cloud and enterprise workloads, and serve as the backbone for Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.
The initiative is based on four key areas: a national plan for the digital economy with clear goals, the development of large-scale digital hubs, national digital standards that meet global best practices, and a well-organised education and workforce training system to build long-term skills.
Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said, “This initiative represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s economic transformation, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing the Digital Economy and Data Sovereignty Agenda. By working with the leading experts of IDCA and members of the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative Technical Working Group as the most advanced and credible think tank, prioritising digital infrastructure, talent development, data sovereignty, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship, Nigeria is laying a strong foundation for sustainable infrastructure growth, job creation, global competitiveness, and innovation-driven, inclusive development.”
Chairman of IDCA, Mehdi Paryavi, added: “Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa. “Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and has the potential to become larger and more impactful to the lives of the people of Africa and beyond.” This is more than a national initiative – it is a platform for long-term economic value creation. By integrating digital infrastructure, standards, and talent, bundled with investments and the right policymaking, Nigeria is building a competitive advantage in the global digital economy.”
Chief Research Officer at IDCA, Roger Strukhoff, stated: “Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward becoming a regional digital powerhouse. IDCA is pleased to be fundamental to this historic economic evolution. This is a structured, investment-ready approach that aligns strategy with execution and global best practices.”
Global Head of Strategic Services & Head of Europe and Africa, Solomon Edun,commented: “IDCA and Nigeria have worked for years to reach this point. This is a historic moment, and the programme is designed to translate vision into measurable outcomes. By focusing on infrastructure deployment, investment attraction, and skills development, we are enabling a scalable and sustainable digital ecosystem.”
Acting Director, Regulations and Compliance, Mr Emmanuel Edet, said, “The development of nationally endorsed standards, implemented in parallel with enabling physical infrastructure, is fundamental to ensuring regulatory consistency, data security, and long-term sustainability. This collaborative initiative between Nigeria and the International Data Center Authority establishes the requisite technical benchmarks and strategic governance framework to support effectiveness.”
The initiative will be implemented over a three-year period with defined milestones and structured engagement across government, private sector, and international partners.
This partnership reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging digital infrastructure as a driver of economic diversification, innovation, and global integration.
