By Nkechi Eze
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for renewed commitment and stronger stakeholder collaboration to accelerate the implementation of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at the SRAP 2.0 Stakeholders’ Engagement held at Lagos Business School, Lagos State. He was represented by the Director of the Special Duties Directorate, Dr Aristotle Onumo.
Inuwa commended the leadership of Lagos Business School for sustaining its partnership with the agency, stressing that strategic partnerships, collective intelligence and inclusive stakeholder participation were essential to achieving sustainable progress in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He noted that the impact of NITDA’s initiatives could be strengthened through deeper collaboration with stakeholders, adding that the successful implementation of the roadmap required collective ownership and sustained commitment from all relevant players.
According to him, SRAP 2.0 was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and collaborative engagements, rather than as an internal document produced exclusively by the agency.
He explained that stakeholders, including members of Lagos Business School, contributed to the development of the roadmap, making their continued involvement in reviewing its implementation critical to achieving its objectives.
The NITDA chief said the engagement provided an opportunity to evaluate progress, determine whether existing priorities remained relevant, identify areas requiring adjustments and assess the impact of the agency’s initiatives.
He added that the review would also help establish whether NITDA was meeting its commitments to stakeholders and ensure that its programmes remained responsive to the changing needs of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Inuwa further highlighted the agency’s evolving approach to digital development, noting that NITDA was gradually transitioning towards becoming an ecosystem platform that promotes innovation through collaboration and co-creation.
He explained that the agency was moving beyond the traditional approach of issuing regulations, directives and guidelines to working more closely with stakeholders in developing and implementing digital solutions.
According to him, the shift was necessary to create an enabling environment for innovation, encourage broader participation and ensure that digital initiatives deliver meaningful economic and social benefits.
The director-general disclosed that NITDA had spent the past three years advancing the transition and was approaching its final phase, urging stakeholders to renew their commitment to sustain the momentum and achieve the desired outcomes.
Reaffirming the agency’s vision, Inuwa said its overarching goal remained to build a digitally enabled Nigeria capable of fostering inclusive economic development through technological innovation.
He noted that the eight strategic pillars underpinning SRAP 2.0 remained central to achieving this objective and would continue to guide the agency’s priorities, programmes and interventions.
He urged stakeholders to critically assess progress across the pillars, particularly in digital skills development, regulatory effectiveness, digital infrastructure and services, entrepreneurship, innovation and the growth of Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
Inuwa also underscored the importance of reviewing the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act and assessing its contribution to strengthening the startup community and promoting innovation-driven enterprise development.
On stakeholder participation, he emphasised the need to ensure that relevant players across the digital ecosystem were adequately involved in the implementation process, noting that effective collaboration was critical to achieving the objectives of the national digital agenda.
He expressed confidence that sustained partnerships, constructive contributions and collective commitment would enable the agency to address emerging challenges, strengthen implementation and advance Nigeria’s digital development goals.
The engagement reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to a collaborative approach to digital transformation, with the agency urging stakeholders to work together towards building a digitally enabled Nigeria capable of serving as a catalyst for digital development across Africa.
