The Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has described ICEGOV 2025 as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a digital governance powerhouse.
He noted that hosting the conference followed Dr. Bosun Tijani’s directive after Nigeria’s successful participation in ICEGOV 2024 in South Africa.
“The Honourable Minister believes that if we truly want to build a sustainable digital economy, we must invest heavily in deep research, especially in deep tech,” he said.
Inuwa explained that the conference theme aligns with the Ministry’s strategic plan — Accelerating the Nation’s Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency — anchored on five pillars: Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Trade, and Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital.
He outlined Nigeria’s progress under these pillars, including:
- The National Digital Literacy Framework, designed to equip every Nigerian with digital skills from early education to adulthood.
- Collaboration with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital literacy into school curricula by 2026.
- Partnership with the Head of Civil Service to train all public servants, with over 24,000 already enrolled.
- The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative to equip citizens with in-demand digital skills.
- Nationwide campaigns extending digital training to market traders, transport workers, senior citizens, and faith-based groups.
“Digital transformation is not just about technology; it’s about improving how we serve citizens. Governance must meet people where they are — online,” Inuwa said.
He also highlighted ongoing efforts on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including a national data exchange platform and a Centre of Excellence for DPI, both aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital governance framework.
“Our goal is to build the capacity, infrastructure, and right policies for Africa’s digital self-determination. ICEGOV gives us the platform to learn, share, and shape that future together,” he concluded.