By: FAITH NKWOUKWA & OKECHUKWU D. OKECHUKWU
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has affirmed that the regional development objectives of the South‑South Development Commission (SSDC) strongly align with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan.
He stressed that digital literacy and talent development remain the bedrock of Nigeria’s digital economy, noting the national target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with an interim milestone of 70 per cent by 2027, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The NITDA boss made this known while receiving the Managing Director of SSDC, Usoro Akpabio, during a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters. He reaffirmed NITDA’s full commitment to partnering with the Commission to drive inclusive digital transformation across the South-South region.
Inuwa highlighted NITDA’s ongoing nationwide interventions in digital skills development targeting students, civil servants, members of the NYSC, and youths. According to him, technology is no longer a standalone sector but a critical enabler across the economy — from energy and agriculture to finance, security and governance.
He added that NITDA is strengthening its zonal offices to deepen grassroots engagement and ensure digital inclusion in underserved communities, particularly within the South-South region.
The Director-General further underscored the importance of strengthening cybersecurity and digital trust, revitalising underutilised ICT centres and innovation hubs, expanding access to devices, and supporting startups and innovation ecosystems that create jobs and address local challenges.
Reaffirming NITDA’s role as a strategic delivery partner, Inuwa stressed that collaboration, coordination and shared implementation frameworks are essential to achieving inclusive digital transformation.
“No institution can succeed in isolation,” he said, pledging that NITDA will work closely with the SSDC through joint programmes, coordinated interventions and structured partnerships to deliver sustainable, people-centred digital development across the South-South.
In her remarks, Akpabio described NITDA as a “strategic delivery partner” in achieving the Commission’s regional mandate. She commended the agency’s interventions in digital capacity building, ICT infrastructure development, device distribution and innovation hubs, noting that NITDA’s presence is increasingly felt across communities in the region.
The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to deepen the strategic partnership, align regional development goals with national digital economy objectives, and position the South-South as a major hub for digital talent, innovation and inclusive growth in Nigeria.
