The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to revolutionise Nigeria’s technology landscape to make it a global digital powerhouse.
It says the agency aims to accomplish this by promoting digital transformation through innovation, accessibility, and creating an enabling environment that fosters creativity to drive progress.
The director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, stated this Wednesday at press parley/breakfast meeting in Abuja, themed, ‘building exceptional media relations, strengthening bonds beyond headlines.’
Inuwa said the roadmap was designed in line with President Bola Tinubu’s eight priority areas targeted at diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
According to him, the framework has an ambitious target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, and that can make us surpass India in technology, among other initiatives.
“We are working with the Ministry of Education to review the curriculum across the formal education, from nursery to university so that we can infuse digital literacy in our formal education.
“By doing that, we can empower Nigerians to have digital skills before graduating.
“We are also conceptualising other initiatives which include the Digital Literacy for All Initiative which will be unveiled soon,” he said.
Speaking further, he said Nigeria has the potential to surpass India in global technological ecosystem.
According to him, Nigeria has a young population, favourable time zone and better accent than India.
“With our youthful population, growing innovation hubs, and supportive government policies, Nigeria is on the brink of a tech revolution. We have the potential to outpace countries like India if we leverage our resources effectively.
“Nigeria boasts a population of over 200 million, with more than 60% under the age of 25. This demographic advantage presents a fertile ground for tech innovation. Young Nigerians are increasingly showing prowess in various tech domains, from software development to artificial intelligence and fintech.
“Nigerian youth are not just consumers of technology but creators and innovators. We are witnessing a surge in tech startups, many of which are developing solutions tailored to local challenges with global scalability,” Mr Inuwa noted.
He recalled that India started brain export about 20 years ago, adding that ”presently, almost 25 per cent of sea level executives in big technology companies are Indians and they have dominated the global technology ecosystem.
He said India’s rise in the tech world, particularly in software services and IT outsourcing, offers valuable lessons for Nigeria. By focusing on education, infrastructure, and a supportive regulatory environment, India has created a thriving tech ecosystem. NITDA believes Nigeria can adopt and adapt these strategies to suit its unique context.
“We are learning from India’s journey but also forging our own path. Nigeria’s tech sector can lead in areas such as fintech, edtech, and health tech, where we have specific strengths and immediate needs,” he said.
