Stronger State Partnerships Key To Digital Economy Goals, NITDA Tells South-South Stakeholders
By Cyber Era NG Special Correspondent
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has underscored the importance of deeper collaboration with state governments, saying sub-national alignment is essential to achieving Nigeria’s digital economy objectives.
According to a statement available to media hounds, e-iisued by the Director of Corporate Communications & Media Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar, Mallam Abdullahi spoke online at the South-South Regional ICT Stakeholders Forum, which brought together policymakers, technology leaders, civil society organisations and ecosystem players to chart a path for accelerated digital development across the region.
Abdullahi noted that while the Agency had made notable progress at the federal level, the real measure of success lied in how effectively national policies were translated into actionable programmes within states. According to him, digital transformation could only be sustained when states domesticated policies and established clear implementation structures.
He referenced key frameworks, including the Nigerian Startup Act and the National Digital Literacy Framework, observing that although several states had created ICT-focused ministries and agencies, some still lacked comprehensive enabling laws and structured governance mechanisms. NITDA, he assured, remained ready to provide technical guidance to states seeking to strengthen their digital ecosystems.
Digital literacy, he stressed, remained central to inclusive growth. Under the National Digital Literacy Framework, he said, NITDA aimed to achieve 95 per cent digital literacy nationwide by 2030 adding working with the Federal Ministry of Education, digital skills had been embedded in school curricula, with teachers across the country undergoing capacity-building programmes to support technology-driven learning. States in the South-South were encouraged to ensure that educators in both public and private schools fully participate in the initiative.
The NITDA boss also highlighted ongoing efforts to upskill public servants saying in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, more than 54,000 federal civil servants had enrolled in structured digital skills training. Similar programmes, he said, were being considered for rollout across South-South states to enhance governance efficiency and public service delivery.
On partnerships, Abdullahi pointed to collaborations with Cisco, which provided access to self-paced digital courses, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), whose digital champions conducted community-based sensitisation in markets, worship centres, motor parks and among senior citizens. He urged stakeholders in the zone to strengthen coordination and co-create practical initiatives to expand digital inclusion.
In his contribution, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation in Cross River State, Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel, reaffirmed the state’s resolve to leverage technology for sustainable development.
Dr. Beshel said Cross River was prioritising broadband expansion and digital infrastructure as the backbone of e-government services, skills development, innovation and job creation. Improved connectivity, he noted, would unlock economic opportunities and enhance service delivery statewide.
Despite challenges such as limited rural connectivity and funding constraints for large-scale ICT projects, the Cross River State Commissioner expressed optimism about strategic partnerships and described collaboration with NITDA and private sector players as critical to narrowing the digital divide, boosting cybersecurity resilience and ensuring inclusive participation in the digital economy.
Beshel maintained that sustained investment and coordinated action would position Cross River as a competitive digital hub within Nigeria’s growing technology landscape.
