Nigeria, US Scale Up Cybersecurity, Data Protection Collaboration – NITDA
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
Nigeria and the United States are set to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity and data protection as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s digital economy, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has said.
Inuwa disclosed this at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building Workshop organised by the United States Department of State in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission and other stakeholders.
He said the renewed engagement reflected a shared resolve by both countries to build a secure and resilient digital ecosystem capable of supporting innovation and economic growth.
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According to the NITDA boss, Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States is focused not only on technology adoption but also on building local capacity, strengthening policies and ensuring responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
He noted that Nigeria and the United States, through the U.S.–Nigeria Binational Commission, agreed in April 2024 to jointly address issues of data privacy, AI, cybersecurity and capacity development.
Inuwa said the agreement had already yielded results, including the co-hosting of an Artificial Intelligence Conference by the Federal Government and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, as well as engagements with U.S. cybersecurity firms to explore partnerships with Nigerian companies.
He explained that data protection and cybersecurity were critical to sustaining public confidence in digital systems, stressing that trust remains the backbone of any successful digital economy.
The NITDA DG said plans were underway to expand Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Conference into an international event this year, providing a platform for global cybersecurity firms to showcase solutions and collaborate with local innovators.
According to him, the move is expected to boost knowledge transfer, promote local content development and strengthen Nigeria’s cyber resilience.
Inuwa also noted Nigeria’s growing digital potential, driven by a young population and expanding market, confirming that while foreign technologies play a role in Nigeria’s digital systems, local expertise must be developed to achieve long-term sustainability.
He assured stakeholders that NITDA would continue to provide the right policy environment to support innovation, protect data and attract investments into the digital sector.
Inuwa thanked the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for their continued support, expressing confidence that the partnership would further enhance Nigeria’s cybersecurity and data protection landscape.
