By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for stronger partnerships with stakeholders to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation, urging renewed commitment to implementing its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0).

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call through Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director of the Special Duties Directorate, during the SRAP 2.0 Stakeholders’ Engagement at Lagos Business School, Lagos State.

Inuwa commended the leadership of Lagos Business School for sustaining its partnership with the agency, stressing that collaboration and collective intelligence were essential to achieving meaningful progress in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

He said the roadmap was developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders, making their continued participation in assessing its implementation important.

According to the DG, the engagement provided an opportunity to evaluate progress, review existing priorities and determine whether the agency’s initiatives were delivering their intended results.

He said: “The strategic roadmap and action plan were developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and collaborative engagements, rather than as an internal document produced without external input.”

Inuwa noted that stakeholders, including members of Lagos Business School, had participated in developing the document and should therefore remain involved in reviewing its implementation.

He explained that the review would help establish whether existing priorities remained relevant, identify areas requiring adjustments and measure progress against commitments made to stakeholders.

“The engagement provides an opportunity to assess progress, determine whether existing priorities remained relevant, identify areas requiring modification and establish whether the initiatives were delivering their intended impact,” he said.

The NITDA chief also highlighted the agency’s gradual transition from a traditional regulatory institution into an ecosystem platform that promotes digital innovation through collaboration and co-creation.

He observed that the agency was increasingly moving beyond issuing regulations, directives and guidelines to working with stakeholders to develop and deliver digital solutions.

According to him, the approach would help create an enabling environment for innovation and ensure that digital initiatives deliver wider economic and societal benefits.

Inuwa said: “The agency’s approach was increasingly embracing co-creation and collaboration, moving beyond the traditional model of issuing regulations, directives and guidelines to working with stakeholders in developing and delivering digital solutions.”

He added that NITDA had spent the past three years advancing the transition and was approaching its final phase, urging stakeholders to renew their commitment and sustain the momentum needed to achieve the desired outcomes.

Reaffirming the agency’s vision, Inuwa said its goal remained to make Nigeria a digitally enabled nation capable of fostering inclusive economic development through technological innovation.

He identified the eight strategic pillars underpinning SRAP 2.0 as central to achieving that vision, urging stakeholders to critically assess progress in key areas, including digital skills development, regulatory effectiveness, digital infrastructure and services, entrepreneurship, innovation and the growth of the startup ecosystem.

The DG also stressed the importance of reviewing the implementation of the Startup Act and assessing its contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s startup community and promoting innovation-driven businesses.

He urged the agency to ensure that relevant players across the digital ecosystem remained involved in the process, noting that sustained engagement would be necessary to address emerging challenges and improve implementation.

Inuwa expressed confidence that stronger partnerships, collective commitment and constructive contributions from stakeholders would advance the country’s digital development objectives.

He concluded by urging stakeholders to work together towards building a digitally enabled Nigeria that could serve as a catalyst for digital transformation across Africa.

•PHOTO: Dr Aristotle Onumo, NITDA Director of the Special Duties Directorate, making a presentation on behalf of NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa, during the SRAP 2.0 Stakeholders’ Engagement at Lagos Business School, Lagos State.