By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged Nigerian universities to adopt digital financial management systems to improve transparency, accountability, revenue tracking and institutional efficiency.

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call on November 3, 2026, during a presentation on “Strengthening Financial Governance and Risk Management in Nigerian Universities” at an engagement organised by the Committee of Vice Chancellors Training Institute (CVCTI) in Abuja.

Inuwa, who was represented by the Director of the Special Duties Directorate, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said digital transformation in universities should go beyond purchasing computers and software to changing institutional processes, leadership practices and staff behaviour.

“It is not about computers. It’s not about technology. It’s about processes. It’s about people. It’s about culture. It’s about behaviour,” Inuwa said.

He said effective digital systems could remove administrative bottlenecks by allowing multiple stakeholders to review, process and approve transactions simultaneously while maintaining proper records and accountability.

The NITDA DG also linked university autonomy with greater financial accountability, saying increased funding and institutional independence should be matched by stronger systems for monitoring expenditure, reporting and maintaining verifiable financial records.

“Our universities have worked hard for autonomy, but transparency is how it can begin,” he said.

Inuwa said digital financial management would enable universities to account for allocations, monitor expenditure, track internally generated revenue and provide credible information on how institutional resources were being used.

He identified five key changes needed to modernise university financial management: moving from multiple ledgers to a single source of financial information; replacing cash-based transactions with cashless operations; moving from after-the-fact audits to continuous assurance; replacing periodic financial reports with real-time dashboards; and shifting from suspicion-based oversight to intelligence-driven management.

He encouraged universities to adopt enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, cashless payment platforms, real-time financial dashboards and continuous audit mechanisms to strengthen internal controls, reduce revenue leakages and improve decision-making.

However, Inuwa cautioned universities against adopting digital systems without considering data protection, cybersecurity, staff capacity and dependence on technology vendors.

He stressed that investment in technology must be accompanied by staff training and behavioural change.

“An ERP with untrained staff is like an expensive typewriter,” he said.

The NITDA chief said the agency was committed to supporting the digital transformation of the university system through regulatory frameworks, digital literacy, capacity building, innovation support and strategic partnerships with educational institutions.

He urged universities to work with NITDA to develop solutions suited to their needs, strengthen cybersecurity, improve digital competencies and automate administrative processes.

Inuwa also invited universities to participate in the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition scheduled for November 10 to 12, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

He said the conference would provide an opportunity for universities, businesses, government institutions, startups and investors to connect, showcase innovations and explore technology-driven solutions to institutional and national challenges.

The NITDA DG urged university administrators to begin practical steps towards integrating their financial systems, adopting cashless operations and making financial activities more transparent and accountable.

• PHOTO: Representing the DG NITDA, the Director SDD, Dr Aristotle Onumo delivering his presentation at the CVCNU Secretariat in Abuja