NITDA Tasks Stakeholders On Harnessing Innovation, AI For Digital Development

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has tasked stakeholders to harness innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital skills, and emerging technologies to accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a globally competitive digital economy.

The director general of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, gave this task during the Port Harcourt Tech Expo 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where NITDA participated as a key stakeholder in discussions aimed at advancing technology-driven economic growth and innovation across Nigeria.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the agency, the director general, who is represented by the director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, delivered the Opening Keynote Address at the two- day event themed “Syntropy: Collective Futures – Systems, Solutions, Synergy and Societies.”

Addressing policymakers, technology leaders, startup founders, investors, academics, development partners, and young innovators, Kashifu emphasized, that the future of Nigeria’s prosperity would increasingly be determined by its ability to harness technology, innovation, and human capital rather than reliance on natural resources.

According to him, the global digital economy presents unprecedented opportunities for Africa and Nigeria to create jobs, attract investments, and improve productivity through emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital platforms.

“The future is not something we inherit; it is something we build. Nigeria’s greatest resource is not oil but its people. Our ability to develop digital talent, foster innovation, and create enabling ecosystems will determine our competitiveness in the digital age” he stated.

He noted that AI and digital technologies are rapidly transforming industries across the world and urged stakeholders to embrace innovation as a catalyst for economic diversification and sustainable development.

He further highlighted NITDA’s ongoing implementation of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which focuses on digital literacy, emerging technologies, innovation, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and inclusive economic growth.

The keynote also underscored the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, development partners, and the startup ecosystem to unlock the immense potential of Nigeria’s youthful population.

The Port Harcourt Tech Expo brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to deliberate on issues relating to Artificial Intelligence, startup development, digital skills, innovation financing, technology adoption, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem growth.

Participants explored opportunities for positioning the Niger Delta as a major hub for technology, innovation, and digital entrepreneurship while discussing strategies for addressing challenges related to skills development, startup financing, infrastructure, and technology commercialisation.

During the event, NITDA engaged with technology companies, startups, innovation hubs, academic institutions, and development partners on potential areas of collaboration to advance digital inclusion and innovation-led development.

The Agency also used the platform to amplify several of its flagship initiatives, including the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and programmes under the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), the statement said.