By The State and Local Governments to be committed to a stronger partnership with the Federal Government for a digital transformation national vision that requires active participation from every corner of the country to succeed.
Making the call for partnership during a courtesy visit to Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa urged governments to “strengthen collaborations that embed our initiatives directly within state and local structures.”
According to him, the current transformation of the 17% GDP to the nation’s economy was driven by strategic partnerships among government institutions, private organisations, and international development partners.
Inuwa disclosed that the agency is working with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to integrate digital skills training into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula nationwide.
He also noted that the ongoing collaborations with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train civil servants and corps members through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative, which is expected to reach over 10 million Nigerians annually, particularly in the informal sector.
He also invited state governments to actively participate in NITDA’s upcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and Digital Nigeria Conference, designed to foster cross-state learning and collaboration in digital governance.
In his remarks, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), described NITDA’s visit as a significant step toward strengthening intergovernmental collaboration in driving Nigeria’s digital economy agenda across all 36 states.
He commended NITDA’s leadership in advancing digital transformation, noting that technology has become a key enabler of competitiveness, opportunity, and inclusive development.
“We deeply appreciate your leadership and the critical role NITDA continues to play in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. In an era where technology defines competitiveness and opportunity, your work stands at the heart of our nation’s transformation,” Shittu stated.
Shittu stressed that digital transformation goes beyond administrative efficiency, describing it as a “national imperative” capable of improving service delivery, expanding economic opportunities, and uplifting millions of Nigerians.
He highlighted the Forum’s ongoing efforts, including the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and the Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report, which guide subnational reforms in digital identity, data exchange, payments, and trust systems.
“These reports are already shaping conversations and actions at the subnational level,” he noted, adding that collaboration on Technical Standards for DPI and the Nigeria Data Exchange Framework will further enhance interoperability and secure data sharing across government systems.
“With strong partnership and shared accountability, we will unlock a future where every Nigerian, urban or rural, has access to the tools and opportunities of the digital age,” he added.
