NITDA DG Tasks Quantity Surveyors on BIM, AI, Blockchain Adoption
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has called on stakeholders in Nigeria’s construction industry to embrace emerging digital technologies as a pathway to boosting productivity and accelerating infrastructure development.
Inuwa, who made the call while delivering a keynote presentation titled “Digital Transformation in the Nigerian Construction Industry” at a two-day workshop organised by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), FCT Chapter, said the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Data Analytics and Cloud Collaboration would redefine the future of project delivery in Nigeria.
The workshop, themed “Policy Shifts and Industry Trends,” brought together professionals to chart a new course for the sector.
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Represented by NITDA’s Acting Director of Project Management, Dr. Yahaya Onimisi, the DG stressed that the shift “from blueprints to bytes” was no longer optional but a necessity for national progress.
“As the urgent need for modernisation becomes more apparent, the future of construction lies in digital transformation. By embracing innovation, Nigeria’s Quantity Surveyors can drive smarter, faster, and more transparent infrastructure development,” Inuwa said.
He identified persistent challenges such as project delays, cost overruns, inefficiencies and resistance to change, noting that technology offered both disruption and opportunity.
According to him, digital adoption would reposition Nigerian Quantity Surveyors from mere cost measurers to strategic, data-driven professionals at the heart of project execution.
“Digital transformation is not merely about adopting new technology but about fundamentally changing business processes, culture, and skills to leverage the opportunities presented by the digital age,” he added.
The NITDA boss also emphasised the need for collaboration between the agency and NIQS to accelerate the digital adoption agenda.
He listed capacity building, policy alignment, innovation labs and the creation of a sector-specific digital roadmap in line with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0 as key areas of partnership.
Citing existing collaborations with professional associations such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Inuwa said similar synergy with NIQS would open new opportunities for transparency and smarter project management.
“With continuous learning, strategic investment in technology, and strong partnerships, Nigerian Quantity Surveyors can not only withstand technological disruption but thrive in the evolving construction landscape,” he noted.
