The Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has called for stronger global partnerships and technology diplomacy to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and position the country as a competitive destination for technology investment and innovation.
Abdullahi made the call during a high-level engagement convened by the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, which brought together senior government officials, diplomats, global technology leaders, investors and digital policy experts to explore how trusted technology, strategic partnerships and international cooperation can drive digital transformation.
The engagement provided a platform for discussions around Artificial Intelligence, trusted digital infrastructure, connectivity, investment, digital skills, emerging technologies and the growing importance of technology diplomacy in shaping economic competitiveness and national development.
The NITDA chief highlighted Nigeria’s youthful population, expanding digital ecosystem and regulatory clarity as key opportunities for the country to move beyond being a consumer of global technology and become a creator, strategic partner and competitive destination for technology investment and innovation.
He stressed the need to move from conversations to partnerships capable of delivering measurable outcomes, particularly by mobilising investment into critical digital infrastructure, strengthening local capabilities and expanding access to global technology markets.
Abdullahi also emphasised the importance of ensuring that emerging technologies translate into tangible economic benefits, including jobs, increased productivity and inclusive economic growth.
The high-level engagement featured representatives from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Google, Intel, Visa, ServiceNow, IREX, AP Telecom, Africell, Cybastion, United States Telecommunications Training Institute and the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, alongside senior African government and diplomatic representatives.
Among the distinguished participants were Michelle Giuda, CEO, Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue; Janice deGarmo, Chief Global Engagement Officer, Krach Institute; Adam Cassady, Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, U.S. Department of State; Mark Mitchell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, U.S. Department of Commerce; and Sarah Troutman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
Also participating were Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology, Republic of Kenya; Charles Murito and Clayton Naidoo of Google; Riccardo Masucci of Intel; Diana Pilipenko of Visa; and Combiz Abdolrahimi of ServiceNow, among other senior technology, investment and diplomatic leaders.
The NITDA DG was accompanied by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director, Special Duties Directorate, NITDA, and Iklima Musa Salihu, Special Assistant on Strategic Partnerships, NITDA.
The engagement underscored the growing importance of international cooperation in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy, particularly by connecting policy, technology, infrastructure, capital, talent and markets.
For NITDA, engagements of this nature reinforce the need for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda to be pursued through strategic partnerships capable of converting global relationships into investment, knowledge transfer, local capacity development and access to international markets.
The Agency remained committed to leveraging international partnerships to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation priorities and translate global relationships into sustainable economic value for Nigerians.
