The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for stronger collaboration between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the government to drive the successful implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the inaugural Civil Society Summit on Civil Democracy and National Development, held at the Rotunda Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Inuwa stressed that sustainable national development requires a united effort and shared responsibility.
“Reforming Nigeria’s economy and ensuring inclusive growth is not the government’s burden alone,” Inuwa said. “There are things the government can do that civil society cannot, and vice versa. But together, we can achieve greater things.”
He urged stakeholders to shift from mere criticism to co-creation of policies, underlining the need for national consensus across political divides.
Outlining the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda — economic reform, national security, agricultural transformation, natural resource development, infrastructure expansion, social sector enhancement, industrial diversification, and improved governance the NITDA boss emphasized the importance of continuity and collective implementation.
“If we agree on the vision, we must move forward together, regardless of who is in power,” he said.
Inuwa also advocated for the strategic deployment of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to transform sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education. He revealed that NITDA is working with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to deploy a digital citizen engagement platform powered by AI, aimed at involving young Nigerians in policy development.
“Technology gives us the ability to scale solutions. Nigeria does not lack ideas we lack the tools and the will to implement them effectively,” he noted.
He concluded by highlighting the need to build trust through engagement, noting that the trust deficit between the government and citizens often stems from a lack of interaction.
“Mr. President has a vision for Nigeria. Let’s all work together to achieve it. With trust and consensus, we can overcome challenges and make Nigeria great,” Inuwa said.
The summit brought together key stakeholders to align on national development priorities, promote civic engagement, and strengthen civil society’s role in democratic governance.
