NITDA, NNPCL Partner to Accelerate Digital Transformation in Energy Sector
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NITDA, NNPCL Partner to Accelerate Digital Transformation in Energy Sector
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have moved to deepen collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation across Nigeria’s energy sector.
The partnership was discussed during a recent strategic engagement between both organisations, where they explored opportunities to deploy emerging technologies to reposition the country’s oil and gas industry for improved efficiency and sustainability.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, urged a shift from traditional dependence on the “exploitation” of oil and gas resources to a more innovation-driven approach anchored on the “exploration” of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics.
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Inuwa noted that information technology has become a critical enabler across all sectors, stressing that innovation would play a decisive role in shaping the future of energy production, operational efficiency, and sustainability in Nigeria.
He also outlined NITDA’s focus on digital literacy, talent development, research ecosystem strengthening, and the promotion of indigenous technology solutions to reduce reliance on foreign systems.
According to him, the agency is working to build stronger innovation linkages between NNPC Ltd and Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem, adding that incubation programmes and innovation challenges would be used to develop practical solutions tailored to the oil and gas industry.
He further disclosed that young Nigerians, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), are already benefiting from NITDA-led initiatives designed to promote tech innovation and problem-solving skills.
Earlier, the Director of Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) at NNPC Ltd, Olatomiwa Olaniyi, said the engagement was aimed at co-creating solutions and establishing a sustainable partnership framework to drive innovation across the energy value chain.
Olaniyi stressed that collaboration between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and the technology ecosystem remains key to achieving sustainable innovation and operational excellence in the sector.
He explained that the RTI unit is focused on improving efficiency, boosting revenue generation, and supporting growth across NNPC’s operations in upstream, gas, power, and new energy.
The unit, he added, operates a structured innovation framework centred on research development, prototyping, strategic partnerships, talent attraction, and continuous innovation.
Both organisations also emphasised the importance of enabling policies and regulatory frameworks in driving technological advancement, with Inuwa noting that effective implementation of the Nigerian Startup Act would be critical to scaling innovation and supporting emerging tech ventures.
The partnership is expected to strengthen the role of digital technology as a key driver of efficiency, diversification, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s energy sector.
