Take Frontline Role In Africa’s Digital Transformation, Inuwa Urges Youth

The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called on Nigerian youth to take the frontline role in shaping Africa’s digital transformation.

The continent’s future and prosperity, he said, depend on how effectively Nigeria builds and protects its digital capabilities at home.

The three-day conference, organised by NITDA, brings together policymakers, innovators, technology entrepreneurs, development partners, and global industry leaders to explore emerging trends shaping Nigeria’s and Africa’s digital future.

It serves as an important bridge between government and industry, harmonising regulatory frameworks, strengthening public–private partnerships, and advancing the implementation of national digital strategies for inclusive, sustainable growth.

Dr Inuwa emphasised that this year’s theme, “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion, and Global Competitiveness,” aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification through digitalisation, industrialisation, and innovation.

With more than 220 million people and an average age of 18, Nigeria stands at a decisive moment. According to Dr Inuwa, the country could unlock unprecedented economic opportunity – or risk deepening socio-economic vulnerabilities – depending on how effectively it empowers young Nigerians.

“If we harness the energy, creativity, and talent of our youth, we will not only power Nigeria, but we can power the entire continent into a new era of prosperity. But if we fail to skill our youth and fail to provide platforms for them to create value, we are stunting the most valuable asset we have,” he warned.

In his welcome address, the NITDA DG underscored that Digital Nigeria is more than a conference – it is “a movement powered by ideas and strengthened by the steadfast belief that Nigeria is poised for greatness in the digital age.”

He highlighted the nation’s ongoing transformation across key pillars: expanding broadband access, strengthening identity and cybersecurity systems, scaling AI and emerging technologies, accelerating startup growth, and preparing talent for global competitiveness.

Critically, Dr Inuwa stressed Nigeria’s commitment to digital sovereignty, ensuring that the country builds, owns, and protects the infrastructure, data systems, and local capabilities that underpin national development.

“We are building systems that protect our data, empower our people, and strengthen our capacity to innovate locally. This is how we secure our digital sovereignty and build a resilient, independent digital economy,” he said.

He emphasised that sovereignty is not only about data governance but also about local cloud infrastructure, domestic compute capability, interoperable digital public infrastructure, and the ability to ‘design, deploy, and defend’ Nigeria’s digital assets within its borders.

The successful hosting of Digital Nigeria 2025 reinforces the country’s position as Africa’s innovation hub and affirms NITDA’s leadership in shaping the policies, partnerships, and capabilities that will define the continent’s next decade of digital growth