NITDA, NBC Collaborate on Media, Technology Regulation
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NITDA, NBC Collaborate on Media, Technology Regulation
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have pledged to strengthen collaboration to regulate Nigeria’s media and technology sectors and drive digital transformation across government and industry.
The announcement followed a courtesy visit by NBC Director-General, Charles Ebuebu, to NITDA headquarters, where both agencies explored strategic partnerships aimed at addressing emerging developments in media, digital governance, and technology innovation.
Speaking during the meeting, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said digital transformation and regulation are inseparable in today’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
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Inuwa noted that digital transformation and regulation are closely linked in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem, stressing that digital transformation is a continuous process rather than a one-off project.
According to him, NITDA deliberately embarked on a reform journey to reposition itself from a traditional civil service institution to a smart and agile public sector organisation.
Inuwa stressed that a large percentage of the agency’s workforce was drawn from the mainstream civil service, making it necessary to address entrenched bureaucratic mindsets and rigid operational practices.
“More than 70 to 80 per cent of our staff came from the mainstream public service. We understood the mindset, so we began to change the narrative by focusing on people, resetting mindsets, building capacity and fostering a culture that supports innovation and accountability,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that the agency’s digital transformation strategy is built on three pillars of people, processes and technology, noting that technology alone cannot deliver value without the right people and efficient processes.
He added that NITDA undertook a comprehensive cultural reorientation programme, supported by cultural audits, to create psychological safety and encourage staff to freely contribute ideas and collaborate across departments.
Inuwa further disclosed that the agency documented over 396 internal processes and streamlined them to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce excessive executive approvals, thereby empowering departments to handle routine operations.
He said the reforms laid the foundation for automation and the deployment of digital tools across the agency.
On capacity building, Inuwa said all NITDA staff underwent mandatory artificial intelligence training, stressing that AI is meant to enhance productivity rather than replace human capital.
He revealed that the agency has developed a digital transformation playbook capturing lessons from its reform journey, which it is willing to share with NBC and other government institutions.
To strengthen collaboration, Inuwa proposed areas of partnership with NBC, including sharing the transformation playbook, providing tailored training programmes, enrolling NBC staff in digital literacy initiatives in partnership with global technology firms, and offering technical support to modernise regulatory frameworks.
Earlier, the Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, called for closer ties between both agencies, describing the partnership as long overdue in view of the rapid convergence of media and technology.
Ebuebu said stronger collaboration between NITDA and NBC would enhance regulation of the evolving media ecosystem, support local content development, promote knowledge transfer and protect Nigeria’s cultural and national interests.
