NITDA Seeks Stronger Collaboration to Accelerate Digital Innovation, Economic Growth
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, academia, industry and technology professionals to accelerate digital innovation and drive inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.
The agency made the call at the 20th Nigeria Computer Society International Conference 2026 held in Jos, Plateau State, where it stressed the need to translate emerging technologies into practical solutions capable of transforming governance, creating jobs and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Representing the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, at the conference, the agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said Nigeria’s digital future depends on sustained investments in innovation, digital skills, research and strategic partnerships that deliver measurable socio-economic benefits.
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According to him, NITDA remains committed to implementing its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan through initiatives aimed at promoting digital literacy, research and development, emerging technologies, cyber sovereignty and innovation-driven ecosystems to accelerate the country’s digital economy.
Onumo said the agency was also expanding opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs and technology startups through platforms that encourage collaboration and investment across the digital ecosystem.
He noted that NITDA was repositioning the Digital Nigeria initiative into the country’s foremost innovation platform where policymakers, investors, startups, researchers and technology companies could collaborate to drive economic growth and digital transformation.
He also urged innovators and startup founders to leverage the forthcoming Builders Summit to showcase indigenous technological solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s development priorities.
Declaring the conference open, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, described digital technology as a critical tool for modern governance and economic development.
Mutfwang said his administration had deployed digital solutions to improve public service delivery, enhance internally generated revenue and modernise government processes across the state.
The governor added that technology would play a vital role in transforming agriculture, improving productivity and strengthening food security, urging participants to ensure that the conference produced practical outcomes that would benefit the country.
Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Prof. Muhammad Sirajo, said the conference was organised to deepen collaboration among policymakers, researchers, regulators and industry leaders on strategies for deploying emerging technologies to drive national development.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Harnessing Digital Innovation and Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Growth and Economic Renaissance (RISE 2026),” Sirajo identified artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, cybersecurity and robotics as some of the technologies shaping the future of global economies.
He said Nigeria’s youthful population and expanding digital ecosystem present a unique opportunity to build a globally competitive economy, provided investments in innovation, digital infrastructure and skills development remain a national priority.
The conference brought together government officials, regulators, technology professionals, academics, development partners and private sector leaders to deliberate on policies and innovations aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and inclusive economic renaissance.
