Nigeria, Benin Deepen Digital Cooperation on Innovation, Public Infrastructure
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Nigeria, Benin Deepen Digital Cooperation on Innovation, Public Infrastructure
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has entered into stronger bilateral collaboration with the Agence des Systèmes d’Information et du Numérique to advance digital transformation, digital public infrastructure, and innovation-led governance across West Africa.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by a Beninese delegation to NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja, where both sides discussed strategies for strengthening institutional ties, sharing best practices, and accelerating digital development in the region.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo, said regional cooperation remains essential for building a resilient and inclusive digital economy in Africa.
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He noted that NITDA is driving Nigeria’s digital transformation through policy development, standards, and strategic frameworks aimed at modernising governance and improving public service delivery.
According to him, the agency has developed key frameworks, including the Enterprise Governance Framework, Digital Transformation Framework, and Software Quality Assurance Framework, to guide Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in their digitalisation efforts.
“Our goal is to move government institutions beyond basic digitalisation to full digital transformation, and ultimately, to build an intelligent, data-driven government powered by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,” he said.
He further disclosed that since 2018, NITDA has reviewed IT projects worth over ₦1.5tn to ensure compliance, technical alignment, and value for money, adding that this has helped the Federal Government save more than ₦300bn by reducing duplication and improving efficiency.
On digital public infrastructure, he explained that Nigeria has shifted from fragmented data exchange systems to a more integrated model through the Nigerian Data Exchange platform, designed to enable seamless and secure data sharing across government institutions.
He added that the proposed e-Government and Digital Economy Bill would provide legal backing for stronger digital collaboration and institutionalise the country’s digital ecosystem.
Inuwa also outlined the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) 2024–2027, which aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focuses on digital literacy, cybersecurity, innovation, research and development, and strategic partnerships.
Earlier, Head of International Partnerships at ASIN, Tildy Erlong, said the visit followed a recent Smart Africa workshop in Abuja and was aimed at strengthening cooperation with Nigeria while learning from its digital transformation experience.
She described ASIN as the implementing agency under Benin Republic’s digital ministry, working with institutions such as the national identity agency ANIP and the cybersecurity agency CENIN to drive digital reforms.
Erlong said Benin has made significant progress in digital public infrastructure, revealing that about 98 per cent of its population—around 13.6 million citizens—has been enrolled on its national digital identity system.
She added that more than 60 government institutions are already connected through the country’s XROAD interoperability platform, enabling over 250 digital services for citizens.
According to her, Benin is also prioritising digital inclusion, open-source systems, and the deployment of artificial intelligence to improve service delivery in key sectors including healthcare, education, and justice.
