The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has emphasized the need for African nations to transition from mere consumers of technology to creators and exporters of digital solutions.
Represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships at NITDA, Inuwa delivered this message during his keynote address at the African Creators Conference 2025 held in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme “The Future of Africa in the Global Digital Economy,” Inuwa highlighted the continent’s vast potential driven by its youthful population, creativity, and digital fluency. He noted that Africa’s young people, with their energy and fluency in digital tools, are poised to shape the continent’s future in technology and innovation.
Inuwa cited Nigeria’s significant strides in digital development, including over 126 million internet users, 205 million mobile subscriptions, and transformative programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative, the Nigeria Startup Act, and NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0. These efforts, he said, are aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a producer and exporter of digital solutions.
The NITDA boss also emphasized the importance of regional collaboration through frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He advocated for harmonized policies and strategic infrastructure investments to unlock trillions of dollars in potential value across Africa’s digital economy.
Inuwa concluded by urging stakeholders to rise to the challenge of building a digitally empowered Africa. “The choices we make today will determine whether Africa remains on the margins or takes its rightful place at the centre of global digital transformation,” he said.
The African Creators Conference 2025 convened over 3,000 creators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the continent, providing a dynamic platform for exploring how artificial intelligence and digital creativity can fuel economic growth and foster cross-border collaboration among Africa’s brightest minds.
