Renewable Energy, Digital Innovation Crucial to Inclusive Growth — NITDA DG
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has said that renewable energy and digital innovation are vital to achieving inclusive growth and transforming rural communities across Nigeria.
Inuwa, who spoke as a panellist at the Civil Society Policy Forum during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., described renewable energy as a key driver of digital inclusion and economic empowerment.
He said, “Renewable energy is not the destination; it is a catalyst. When there is power, connectivity follows, and that connectivity triggers true transformation.”
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The NITDA boss explained that access to clean energy and technology could change rural livelihoods, noting that innovations such as AI-powered farming tools, digital platforms for women entrepreneurs, and remote digital jobs were already enabling Nigerians to earn globally while living locally.
“A farmer with a simple app can double his income, send his child to school, and even employ others. A young person with internet access doesn’t have to migrate to Abuja or Lagos; he can work from his village and earn in dollars,” he added.
Inuwa linked these initiatives to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which, according to him, emphasises sustainability, diversification, and inclusivity.
He said Nigeria’s digital economy strategy, under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is anchored on five key pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade.
Inuwa also noted that NITDA had expanded its operational framework to eight strategic areas, including digital literacy, research, cybersecurity, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
He disclosed that NITDA, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, is integrating digital literacy into the nation’s curriculum from kindergarten to tertiary level, adding that digital competency is now a requirement for employment and promotion in the civil service.
According to him, the agency plans to train 50 million Nigerians by 2027 as part of efforts to build a digitally skilled workforce capable of driving national transformation.
“Our vision is clear, our journey is set, and our resolve is stronger than ever. We invite everyone to join us in building a digitally empowered and prosperous Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, Fowzia Hassan, Senior Operations Officer for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding energy access across Africa through its Mission 300 (M300) initiative, which targets 300 million new connections by 2030.
Hassan said, “Access to energy has always been central to the Bank’s development agenda. With M300, we’ve set a clear target, a deadline, and the resources to make it happen.”
She explained that the initiative brings together the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to strengthen regulations, attract private investment, and deploy innovative financing models to reach underserved communities.
Highlighting the gender dimension of energy access, Hassan cited data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) indicating that women make up 32 per cent of Africa’s renewable energy workforce — mostly in non-technical roles.
She called for deliberate policies to enhance women’s participation in technical and leadership positions.
“Women are vital consumers, producers and decision-makers in energy. Yet they face barriers ranging from finance to education and workplace inclusion,” she said.
Hassan listed ongoing World Bank-supported projects, including collaborations with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on National Energy Compacts, the DAIRS programme in Nigeria — which seeks to mobilise over $1bn for mini-grids and solar systems — and the Women in Energy Network Africa (WEN-Africa), which has already facilitated jobs for 57 women and targets 4,000 jobs within three years.
“Creating a clean, inclusive, and just energy transition is not just about connecting homes — it’s about empowering people, especially women and youth, to drive Africa’s prosperity,” she added.
