By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
In a renewed drive to harness innovation for sustainable national growth and youth empowerment, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has emphasised the critical need for robust collaboration among academia, industry, and government.
According to a press statement e-signed by the Director of Corporate Communications & Media Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar, this call was made during a working visit by a delegation from Lancaster University, United Kingdom, led by the Director of International Research, Professor Kirk Semple to NITDA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Cyber Era NG learns that the visit centred on exploring avenues for strategic collaboration under the Research and Innovation Partnership for Entrepreneurship (RIPE) programme, an initiative aimed at leveraging academic research and innovation to spur entrepreneurial development and economic transformation.
Addressing the delegation, Mallam Abdullahi noted that Nigeria and Africa broadly faced a significant research investment gap that continued to hinder the continent’s progress toward building knowledge-based economies. “For us to build a robust and sustainable economy, we need to invest in research. That is where we have a huge gap in Nigeria and Africa at large, we don’t invest in research,” he said.
Using agriculture as a case in point, Abdullahi observed that many Nigerian farmers lacked access to critical data and digital tools that could revolutionise productivity and resource efficiency and stressed that research and development (R&D) were foundational to solving such sector-specific challenges and to informing policies and regulations that could accelerate digital transformation.
He further outlined NITDA’s focus on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), blockchain, robotics, and additive manufacturing, noting that these technologies held vast potential for solving local problems and creating new economic opportunities.
“The goal is to create a vibrant technology-research ecosystem that unites academia, industry, government, entrepreneurs, and risk capital,” he stated.
He further emphasised the need to align university curricula with real world industry demands, encouraging institutions to develop talent capable of addressing practical challenges through innovation. Abdullahi also called for better coordination among stakeholders, warning against the inefficiencies of duplicative efforts.
He also referenced the eight strategic pillars identified by the Federal Government as drivers of national development. These included Reforming the economy for inclusive and sustainable growth, strengthening national security for peace and prosperity, boosting agriculture to achieve food security, unlocking energy and natural resources, enhancing infrastructure and transportation, focusing on education, health, and social investment, accelerating diversification through industrialisation and innovation, Improving governance and service delivery.
To support these priorities, Abdullahi further highlighted NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2024–2027), which was structured around eight complementary pillars. These included Foster Digital Literacy and Cultivate Talents, build a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem, Strengthen Policy Implementation and Legal Framework, Promote Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services, Strengthen Cybersecurity and Enhance Digital Trust, Nurture an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration, and Cultivate a Vibrant Organisational Culture and an Agile Workforce in NITDA.
“We place a strong emphasis on research because without it, you can not develop effective policies or regulations that drive real change in the ecosystem,” he added.
The meeting marked a significant step forward in NITDA’s commitment to international collaboration, aligning with the broader objectives of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and positioning Nigeria to take a leadership role in the global digital economy through research-led innovation, DG stated.
In his earlier remarks, Professor Kirk Semple highlighted Lancaster University’s global research reputation and its commitment to strategic collaborations that delivered societal value. Prof. Semple described the (RIPE) programme as a vehicle for knowledge mobilisation moving beyond academic theory to practical application.
“Universities today are under pressure to demonstrate value beyond knowledge creation. Strategic partnerships like this with NITDA helps ensure research informed policy, supports innovation, and drives meaningful change in communities,” Semple said.
He also underscored the role of innovation in bridging the gap between academia and society, noting that universities served as critical hubs for organisations especially those lacking R&D capabilities to access expertise and resources necessary for solving global issues like climate change, public health, and technological inequality.
Professor Semple concluded by affirming the importance of creating diverse, long-term networks that fostered cooperation across sectors, emphasizing that the true measure of success lay in sustained impact rather than accolades.
