NITDA DG urges universities to prioritise skills over certificates
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NITDA DG urges universities to prioritise skills over certificates
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, has called on Nigerian universities to prioritise practical skills, innovation and problem-solving over the acquisition of academic certificates.
Inuwa said the country’s economic development depended on its ability to translate scientific research into marketable products, productive enterprises and solutions to societal challenges.
He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the third International Biennial Conference of the College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS 2026) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The NITDA boss, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, spoke on the theme, “From Scientific Discovery to National Prosperity: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Convergent Innovation to Transform Nigeria.”
He urged universities to move beyond traditional academic boundaries and embrace multidisciplinary research, emerging technologies and practical approaches to national development.
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According to him, the value of scientific research should be measured by its impact on society rather than the volume of publications produced by researchers.
“The future of our country will not be determined simply by how much research we produce. It will be determined by how effectively we convert research into productivity, innovation, enterprise and national prosperity,” he said.
Inuwa explained that artificial intelligence was creating opportunities for collaboration across agriculture, healthcare, environmental science, engineering, mathematics and data science.
He, however, cautioned that AI should complement human expertise and improve scientific discovery rather than replace researchers or undermine human judgment.
“AI does not replace science. It amplifies science,” he stated.
Using agriculture as an example, Inuwa said integrating AI with satellite imagery, climate modelling and Internet of Things sensors could help farmers improve planting decisions, detect crop diseases, optimise irrigation and reduce waste.
He added that technology could also improve access to market information and support better agricultural productivity.
The NITDA DG stressed that technology-driven solutions must reflect Nigeria’s realities, including affordability, local languages, limited internet connectivity and the needs of intended beneficiaries.
He also identified opportunities for AI applications in healthcare and climate resilience, including disease surveillance, clinical decision-making, flood-risk prediction and early-warning systems.
However, he called for responsible deployment of emerging technologies, with adequate safeguards for data privacy, accountability, fairness and public trust.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to developing the country’s digital economy through digital literacy, talent development, infrastructure expansion, innovation and responsible technology adoption.
He cited the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0, National Digital Literacy Framework, Digital Literacy for All initiative and 3 Million Technical Talent programme as key interventions aimed at equipping Nigerians with relevant digital skills.
He also called for improved access to reliable electricity, quality datasets, computing resources, secure cloud environments and other research infrastructure needed by universities to develop locally relevant innovations.
The NITDA boss urged the government, academia, industry, investors and entrepreneurs to strengthen partnerships that would enable promising research projects to attract funding, undergo commercialisation and reach the market.
Addressing university administrators, he said higher institutions needed to reconsider how they measured academic success by placing greater emphasis on research impact, entrepreneurship, collaboration and graduates’ capacity to create jobs.
“The university of the future cannot remain merely a place where knowledge is transmitted, and certificates are awarded. It must become a place where problems are investigated, solutions are developed, enterprises are created, and society is transformed,” he said.
He urged universities to strengthen technology transfer mechanisms, establish effective partnerships with industries and expand entrepreneurship education to connect research with market and community needs.
Inuwa also challenged researchers to take their discoveries beyond academic publications by developing prototypes, testing solutions and creating sustainable products and services capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
He told students that academic qualifications remained important but should be complemented by digital and AI literacy, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, ethical judgment and practical problem-solving skills.
“Your certificate may open the door, but your capability will determine how far you go,” he said.
He encouraged students to use emerging technologies to investigate difficult questions, explore new possibilities and develop solutions to problems affecting their communities.
As part of efforts to ensure that the conference produced tangible results, Inuwa proposed a 12-month innovation agenda for the College of Physical Sciences and its partners.
He urged the college to identify priority national challenges within 90 days, establish collaborative research teams and begin developing prototypes within six months, and test promising solutions with communities and industry partners within nine months.
He further proposed a research-to-impact showcase within 12 months to demonstrate the outcomes of the initiative.
According to him, the programme should be assessed through measurable results, including validated prototypes, effective partnerships, commercialisation opportunities and benefits to society, rather than speeches and presentations.
He also encouraged conference organisers to build on the technical sessions and proposal-writing workshop to develop collaborative research projects capable of attracting funding.
Inuwa expressed NITDA’s willingness to explore structured partnerships with academic and research institutions in areas such as digital skills, responsible AI, indigenous innovation and practical applications of emerging technologies.
He said such collaborations should be built around clearly defined problems and credible implementation plans.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Olusola Babatunde, called for the establishment of an Information Technology hub at the university to strengthen its digital capacity and support research and innovation.
Babatunde, who was represented by the Dean of the College of Environmental Resources Management, Professor Olusegun Oguntoke, commended NITDA for its contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation.
He said the proposed IT hub would provide an enabling environment for students and researchers to develop practical, technology-driven solutions.
The vice-chancellor also stressed the importance of strengthening the university’s digital infrastructure to support research activities and innovation.
