By Eniola Philip
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has urged states and stakeholders to embrace inclusivity as Nigeria navigates its journey towards digitalisation and entrepreneurial evolution.
Speaking at the engagement of the NITDA/State Digital Economy Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on Thursday, , Abdullahi stressed that the digital revolution must serve all Nigerians, not just a privileged few. The DG, who was represented by Babajide Ajayi, said bridging the digital divide, enhancing digital literacy, and ensuring equitable access to technology remain crucial in shaping Nigeria’s future.
“In our quest for digitalization, inclusivity must be our guiding principle. The true measure of our success lies not just in the strides made by some but in the progress achieved by all,” the NITDA DG declared.
According to him, the TWGs—formed after earlier stakeholder engagements in Ogun, Oyo, and Osun States—were designed to deepen collaboration and push the boundaries of innovation across the South-West and beyond. Highlighting NITDA’s ongoing interventions, Abdullahi disclosed that 24 Digital Economy Centres had been established in Oyo State, while construction is underway on an Innovation Hub at Oyo Agropreneurs ICT Polytechnic, Itori, in Ogun State. He also pointed to the roll-out of the Digital Literacy for All (D-LALL) programme, anchored on the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), as part of efforts to empower citizens.
The DG called on state governments to partner with the Agency in sustaining and expanding these initiatives, describing the engagement as “a veritable platform to pool knowledge, experience, and expertise, and to co-create solutions that can deliver services to all stakeholders, especially at the grassroots.”
Abdullahi added, “Let us be the architects of a future where opportunities are abundant and every entrepreneur’s vision finds a productive environment. Together, we have the power to shape the destiny of our digital nation.”
In her address, the South-west Coordinator of NILDA, Mrs Rita Shoremi, called for collaboration among the stakeholders.
Shoremi said: ‘’In the Southwest,we are gifted with a unique combination of innovation hubs, world-class universities, a growing tech-savvy population, and increasingly proactive state governments. However, for this potential to translate into real and inclusive digital transformation, we must break silos because the government needs the agility of the private sector to fast-track solutions”.
In his remarks, the Special Assistant on Information and Communication, and Technology [ICT] and e-Governance to the Oyo State Governor, Mr. Adebayo Akande, reiterated the commitment of the Oyo State Government to using ICT as a driver for inclusive growth to shape the future of the state, Nigeria and Africa at large.
In her goodwill message, the Permanet Secretary of Osun State Ministry of Innovation, Science, Technology and Agricultural Economy, Mrs Olufunke Jolayemi ,called for collaboration among the stakeholders in the South West to optimise the benefits of information technology. Also, the Director, Standard Regulatory, Planning and Research, Bureau of Information Technology, Ogun State, Mrs. Olatundun Adekunte, collaboration among the stakeholders is imperative.
