NITDA, Trust Stamp Explore Partnership on Digital Trust
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has begun talks with a United States-based technology firm, Trust Stamp, to explore areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening digital trust and deepening innovation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
This was made known on Wednesday following a strategic meeting between officials of the agency and representatives of the NASDAQ-listed company.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who chaired the meeting, said trust remained a critical foundation for the growth of the digital economy.
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He said secure systems and strong cybersecurity frameworks were essential to driving innovation, economic growth and national development.
“In building a thriving digital economy, trust is fundamental. When citizens and businesses have confidence in digital platforms and services, adoption increases and innovation flourishes,” Inuwa said.
He reiterated that NITDA’s role as a regulator was to create an enabling environment through forward-looking policies and regulatory frameworks that support innovation rather than promote specific technologies.
According to him, government interventions are designed to stimulate markets, create opportunities and empower businesses and citizens to participate fully in the digital economy.
The NITDA boss also reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to investments that strengthen digital infrastructure and improve service delivery, stressing that sustainable development is best driven by private sector participation under supportive regulatory frameworks.
In his remarks, the Vice President of Trust Stamp, Jonathan Pasha, said the company brings global experience in secure verification and trust technologies, with a focus on building long-term value within local ecosystems.
He noted that the firm adopts a partnership-driven approach, working with governments and private sector stakeholders to address local challenges and expand access to secure digital services.
Pasha added that Trust Stamp is already operational in Nigeria, collaborating with a telecommunications provider to enhance SIM swap prevention and fraud detection capabilities.
He explained that the company’s biometric tokenisation technology converts biometric data into secure, privacy-preserving formats, enabling identity verification without exposing sensitive information.
According to him, the technology supports fraud prevention, financial inclusion initiatives and the tokenisation of real-world assets, and is designed to function effectively in low-connectivity environments and on low-specification devices.
Both parties expressed willingness to deepen technical-level discussions to identify specific areas of collaboration in line with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
NITDA reiterated its commitment to fostering a secure and trusted digital economy through strategic partnerships and robust regulatory frameworks.
