The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has said Nigeria has strong potential to emerge as a significant force in the global digital economy if it continues to invest in technology, innovation and digital skills.
Speaking at GITEX Nigeria in Lagos, Inuwa said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had recognised the need to move Nigeria beyond traditional sources of economic growth by intentionally prioritize diversification, innovation and digital transformation.
He noted that these priorities form part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to drive economic diversification through industrialisation, digitalisation, manufacturing, innovation and the creative industries.
According to Inuwa, the future of economic competitiveness will increasingly depend on a country’s ability to think, innovate, learn, create and solve problems, rather than relying primarily on physical resources. He therefore identified Nigeria’s large and youthful population as a major asset in building a competitive digital economy.
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The NITDA Director-General also highlighted efforts to strengthen digital skills through formal education and government programmes, particularly the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, which is designed to develop Nigeria’s technical workforce and expand its participation in the global technology industry.
He further noted that Nigeria’s large market, youthful population and development needs provide significant opportunities for technology-driven growth. With the right policies and investments, he said, technology can serve not only as a tool for digital transformation but also as a driver of productivity, economic diversification, inclusion and sustainable development.
Inuwa’s comments reflect NITDA’s broader focus on placing digital infrastructure, human capital, innovation and supportive technology policies at the centre of Nigeria’s economic transformation and efforts to build a globally competitive digital economy.
