NITDA DG Says Digital Skills, Innovation Key to Nigeria’s Economic Transformation
According to Inuwa, future economic growth will increasingly depend on a country’s ability to think, innovate, learn, create and solve problems rather than simply rely on physical resources.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) , Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has said Nigeria is well positioned to become a major contributor to the global digital economy, provided the country continues to strengthen technology, innovation and digital skills.
Speaking at GITEX Nigeria in Lagos, Inuwa said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had, from the outset, recognised that Nigeria’s economic future would depend on moving beyond traditional sources of growth and deliberately investing in diversification, innovation and digitalisation.
He said the administration’s priorities are reflected in the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative industries, manufacturing and innovation.
According to Inuwa, future economic growth will increasingly depend on a country’s ability to think, innovate, learn, create and solve problems rather than simply rely on physical resources. He said this shift makes Nigeria’s human capital a critical asset in competing in the global digital economy.
The NITDA chief also highlighted efforts to integrate digital skills into formal education and government initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. The programme is designed to build Nigeria’s technical talent pipeline and strengthen the country’s capacity to participate in the global technology economy.
Inuwa said the responsibility of NITDA extends beyond developing skilled Nigerians to creating an environment where those skills can be converted into businesses, products and innovations that address real-world challenges. He noted that Nigeria’s youthful population, large market and significant development needs provide the conditions for the country to become both a creator and contributor in the global digital economy.
He added that the policy direction under President Tinubu provides an opportunity for Nigeria to harness technology not only as a tool for digital transformation but also as an engine for productivity, economic diversification, inclusion and sustainable prosperity.
The comments align with NITDA’s broader push to position digital infrastructure, human capital, innovation and enabling policies at the centre of Nigeria’s economic development. The agency has also emphasised the role of collaboration and digital talent development in building a globally competitive Nigerian digital economy.
