NITDA, Stakeholders Rally to Fast-Track Nigeria’s Digital Transformation …Seeks stronger partnerships, reviews SRAP 2.0 implementation

"Strategic partnerships, collective intelligence and inclusive participation remained critical to achieving the country’s digital development objectives and building a digitally enabled economy." Inuwa

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for stronger partnerships and sustained stakeholder collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation, stressing the need to review progress and strengthen the implementation of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0).

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, made the call through the Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, at the SRAP 2.0 Stakeholders’ Engagement held at Lagos Business School, Lagos State.

Inuwa said strategic partnerships, collective intelligence and inclusive participation remained critical to achieving the country’s digital development objectives and building a digitally enabled economy.

He commended the leadership of Lagos Business School for sustaining its partnership with the agency, noting that collaboration among relevant stakeholders would help deepen the impact of NITDA’s initiatives and ensure that its programmes delivered sustainable results.

According to him, SRAP 2.0 was developed through extensive consultations and engagements with stakeholders, rather than as an internal document prepared without external contributions.

He noted that members of Lagos Business School and other stakeholders participated in developing the roadmap, making their continued involvement in assessing its implementation essential.

The NITDA boss explained that the engagement provided an opportunity to evaluate progress, determine whether existing priorities remained relevant, identify areas requiring adjustments and establish the extent to which the agency’s initiatives were achieving their intended objectives.

He added that the review would also help assess performance against commitments made to stakeholders and ensure that the agency’s programmes remained responsive to the changing demands of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Inuwa said NITDA was gradually transitioning into an ecosystem platform for digital innovation, with greater emphasis on co-creation, collaboration and partnerships in developing and implementing digital solutions.

He observed that the agency was moving beyond the traditional approach of issuing regulations, directives and guidelines to working more closely with stakeholders in creating an enabling environment for innovation and technological advancement.

According to him, the approach would strengthen the capacity of digital initiatives to deliver broader economic and social benefits while encouraging greater participation across the ecosystem.

He disclosed that the agency had spent the past three years advancing the transition and was approaching the final phase of the process.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to renew their commitment and sustain the momentum required to consolidate the gains recorded and achieve the desired outcomes.

Reaffirming NITDA’s vision, Inuwa said the agency remained committed to building a digitally enabled Nigeria where technological innovation drives inclusive economic development.

He explained that the eight strategic pillars underpinning SRAP 2.0 would continue to guide the agency’s priorities and interventions towards achieving the vision.

The director-general urged stakeholders to critically examine progress across the pillars, particularly in digital skills development, regulatory effectiveness, digital infrastructure and services, entrepreneurship, innovation and the growth of the country’s startup ecosystem.

He also underscored the need to assess the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act and its contribution to strengthening the startup community, encouraging innovation and promoting enterprise development.

Inuwa emphasised that effective implementation of the roadmap required the participation of all relevant stakeholders across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

He said sustained engagement would enable the agency to identify emerging challenges, address implementation gaps and ensure that its interventions reflected the needs and aspirations of the wider digital community.

The NITDA boss expressed confidence that stronger partnerships, collective responsibility and constructive stakeholder contributions would accelerate the country’s digital development and strengthen the impact of government policies and programmes.

He urged participants to embrace the collaborative approach and work collectively towards building a digitally enabled Nigeria capable of serving as a catalyst for digital transformation across Africa.