By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and North West University have begun discussions on a structured partnership to strengthen digital education, research, innovation and technology capacity at the institution.

The engagement focused on deploying technology to improve teaching and research while equipping graduates with practical skills needed in Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.

Speaking during the engagement, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, said the proposed partnership should focus on sustainable outcomes rather than one-off interventions.

“We need to create an ecosystem where the university produces the human capital required by government and the private sector, while industry also contributes to the development of relevant skills and research,” Inuwa said.

The NITDA DG said universities had a critical role in Nigeria’s digital transformation because of their responsibility for developing the skilled workforce, knowledge and research needed to sustain technological growth.

He also identified the gap between university training and industry requirements as a major challenge to graduate employability, urging institutions to strengthen relationships with employers and technology companies.

Inuwa called for regular curriculum reviews to expose students to emerging technologies and practical skills relevant to both Nigerian and international labour markets.

He urged North West University to integrate digital literacy into its General Studies programme under the National Digital Literacy Framework, while also strengthening programmes in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, robotics and other emerging technologies.

According to him, NITDA’s proposed collaboration with the university could cover technical training, innovation laboratories, research partnerships and collaboration with global technology companies.

Inuwa also stressed the need for academia, government and industry to collaborate from the early stages of research to improve the chances of turning research findings into practical solutions.

“We need to create an ecosystem where the university produces the human capital required by government and the private sector,” he reiterated, adding that industry should also play a role in developing relevant skills and research.

The NITDA boss cited the agency’s collaboration with Nasarawa State University and Cisco as an example of how partnerships between academia and industry could give students practical exposure, professional certifications and academic recognition.

He cautioned against measuring digital transformation merely by the number of computers or other devices supplied to an institution.

“While equipment would eventually become outdated, investments in knowledge, skills, research and innovation would continue to produce benefits,” he said.

University seeks NITDA support

The Vice-Chancellor of North West University, Professor Amina Salihi, said digital transformation and research were central to her administration’s development agenda.

Salihi said the university’s 14-point agenda was designed to reposition the institution as a competitive 21st-century university, with technology playing a key role in improving academic standards, visibility and ranking.

“We have placed digital transformation and research at the centre of our development agenda,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

She disclosed that the university had grown from four faculties, one campus and about 1,000 students at its establishment in 2012 to 10 faculties and approximately 30,000 students.

Salihi said her administration, which assumed office in December 2025, had assessed the institution’s needs and identified infrastructure, power and digital technology among its major priorities.

She disclosed that construction of a Computer-Based Testing centre was underway through a philanthropist’s intervention and appealed to NITDA to provide the required IT equipment.

According to her, the centre could eventually serve as an accredited facility for recruitment examinations and professional tests.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced plans to establish an Open and Distance Learning Centre, noting that the initiative would require reliable digital infrastructure and technical support.

She appealed for additional digital devices, including laptops, to support academic and administrative operations.

Salihi further disclosed that a two-megawatt solarisation project was being implemented at the main campus, while another solar project was underway at the city campus.

She expressed optimism that the engagement with NITDA would develop into a structured partnership covering digital infrastructure, computer-based testing, open and distance learning, emerging technologies, research, innovation and human capital development.

•PHOTO: Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, presents the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan to the Vice-Chancellor of North West University, Professor Amina Salihi, during her working visit to NITDA Headquarters in Abuja.