The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to open governance, transparency and inclusive digital development as the Open Government Partnership (OGP) formally presented the awards and certificates won by the country at the OGP Global Summit 2025 in Spain.
Nigeria emerged as the overall global winner in the Digital Governance category for its effective deployment of digital tools and policies to strengthen government transparency, accountability and citizen engagement. The country also secured the Regional Award for advancing Open Digital Governance across Africa and the Middle East, reinforcing its leadership in promoting open government principles and driving digital transformation in the region.
The recognitions were largely attributed to initiatives led by NITDA in collaboration with civil society organisations, including Dataphyte, which showcased innovative and inclusive digital governance approaches at the summit held in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The global event attracted over 1,500 senior government officials, civil society leaders and policymakers.
Receiving the OGP delegation at NITDA headquarters, the Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, described the awards as a national honour, noting that they reflect collective efforts by government, civil society and the private sector rather than the work of a single institution.
“This is not just about NITDA. It is a national recognition, and every recognition comes with responsibility,” Inuwa said, stressed that failure to deliver on OGP commitments could undermine Nigeria’s credibility both locally and internationally.
He linked the achievement to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting digital transformation, transparency, economic diversification, job creation and efficient public service delivery as key presidential priorities. According to him, leveraging digital technologies to deepen openness and accountability aligns with national goals of strengthening institutions and rebuilding public trust.
Inuwa underscored the importance of collaboration, describing the OGP platform as a catalyst for a strong multi-stakeholder approach in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. He called on civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector and other government institutions to provide technical support and sustained engagement to ensure effective implementation of agreed commitments.
“We need to leverage the OGP platform. We need your expertise, your guidance, your support and your commitment to hand-hold us in delivering on these commitments,” he said.
The NITDA boss disclosed that the agency has begun internal reviews of its OGP commitments and has tasked its representatives, including Dr Rousseau, with developing a clear execution strategy. He also proposed the creation of joint work streams with OGP stakeholders to enhance accountability and keep implementation on track.
He further welcomed the idea of engaging OGP’s political leadership, including the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, to brief President Tinubu on the achievement, noting that celebrating milestones boosts morale and demonstrates that Nigeria’s digital governance reforms are gaining global recognition.
Earlier, Mr Olusoji Apampa, who led the OGP delegation, said the honours were earned through strong government–civil society collaboration, with NITDA playing a critical role in advancing digital governance commitments. He expressed optimism that the awards would provide fresh momentum to accelerate reforms and deepen open digital governance across Nigeria.
