NITDA DG urges universities to digitise financial management
0
0
NITDA DG urges universities to digitise financial management
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, has urged Nigerian universities to embrace digital transformation to strengthen financial governance, transparency and accountability in their administration.
Inuwa said the adoption of digital financial management systems would help universities eliminate revenue leakages, improve internal controls, prevent fraudulent practices and enhance institutional efficiency.
He made the call while delivering a presentation titled, “Strengthening Financial Governance and Risk Management in Nigerian Universities,” at an engagement organised by the Committee of Vice Chancellors Training Institute at the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities Secretariat, Abuja.
The NITDA boss, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, spoke on the theme, “Financial Technology, Digital Systems and University Financial Management.”
READ ALSO: TCN Faults Ikeja Electric Over Attribution Of Power Outages To Grid Instability
He explained that digital transformation in university administration went beyond acquiring computers and other technological infrastructure, stressing that it required changes in institutional processes, leadership, organisational culture and staff behaviour.
“It is not about computers. It’s not about technology. It’s about processes. It’s about people. It’s about culture. It’s about behaviour,” he said.
Inuwa noted that automated financial platforms could eliminate administrative bottlenecks by allowing multiple stakeholders to review, process and approve transactions simultaneously while ensuring proper documentation and accountability.
He stressed that university leadership must demonstrate commitment to digital transformation by rethinking traditional administrative practices and adopting more efficient approaches to institutional management.
On university autonomy, the NITDA DG said institutional independence and increased funding must be matched with stronger financial monitoring, transparent reporting and verifiable records.
He warned that universities’ inability to provide credible financial information could erode public confidence and threaten the sustainability of their autonomy.
“Our universities have worked hard for the autonomy, but transparency is how it can begin,” he said.
According to him, integrated digital financial systems would enable universities to monitor allocations, track expenditure and revenue, prevent financial irregularities and provide reliable information on the utilisation of resources.
He urged university administrators to move away from manual financial processes and leverage Nigeria’s existing digital payments infrastructure through enterprise resource planning solutions, cashless payment platforms, real-time financial dashboards and continuous audit mechanisms.
Inuwa identified five major changes required to modernise financial management in universities: replacing multiple ledgers with a single source of financial information, transitioning from cash-based transactions to cashless campuses, adopting continuous auditing instead of after-the-fact audits, replacing periodic financial reports with real-time dashboards and moving from suspicion-based supervision to intelligence-driven management.
However, he cautioned universities against adopting digital solutions without adequate consideration for data protection, cybersecurity, staff capacity and dependence on technology vendors.
He emphasised that investment in digital infrastructure must be accompanied by staff training and behavioural change to ensure effective utilisation of the systems.
“An ERP with untrained staff is like an expensive typewriter,” he said.
Reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to supporting digital transformation in the education sector, Inuwa said the agency was working to promote digital literacy, build institutional capacity, encourage innovation and facilitate strategic partnerships with educational institutions.
He added that NITDA was evolving from being merely an IT administrator to becoming an ecosystem enabler, providing platforms and opportunities for institutions, innovators and technology entrepreneurs.
The DG urged universities to collaborate with the agency in developing institutional digital solutions, strengthening cybersecurity, improving staff competencies and automating administrative processes.
He also invited universities to participate in the forthcoming Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition scheduled for November 10 to 12, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to him, the conference will bring together universities, businesses, government institutions, startups and investors to showcase innovations, establish partnerships and explore technology-driven solutions to institutional and national challenges.
Inuwa said NITDA remained committed to providing the necessary guidance, frameworks and collaborative support to help universities transition from manual operations to integrated, automated and data-driven financial management systems.
He expressed optimism that stronger institutional commitment and strategic deployment of digital technologies would improve governance, service delivery and the contribution of Nigerian universities to the country’s digital economy.
