NITDA DG Showcases Nigeria’s Digital Transformation at 79th UN General Assembly

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, made significant contributions to discussions on Africa’s digital transformation at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York.

Participating in a series of high-profile events, the DG emphasized Nigeria’s efforts in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and public-private partnerships.

At a panel titled “Digital Transformation in Africa: Jumping Ten Years in One,” hosted by the Consulate of Denmark in New York, the UNDP, and cBrain, Abdullahi highlighted how government-led initiatives, private-sector collaboration, and digital technologies can drive Africa’s future growth.

He shared insights from NITDA’s own digital initiatives, offering valuable lessons for other African nations in their pursuit of sustainable digital growth. The panel underscored Africa’s role as the next global workforce frontier.

Also, during the “Summit of the Future” held at the UN headquarters, the DG participated in a session focused on “The Power of the Commons: Digital Public Goods for a More Secure, Inclusive, and Resilient World.”

The panel explored the importance of Digital Public Goods (DPGs) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in social and economic development. The NITDA boss emphasized the crucial role of academia in advancing digital commons and stressed the significance of safeguarding digital infrastructure for global security.

In a bilateral meeting with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Abdullahi also discussed strategic collaboration in capacity building, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. He highlighted NITDA’s efforts to align with ITU’s goals in fostering Nigeria’s IT development, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in achieving mutual digital growth objectives.

On the sidelines of the assembly, the NITDA DG met with Cisco Vice President Fran Katsoudas to review the progress of the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme. The CDA programme is a key initiative in Nigeria’s digital transformation, aiming to stimulate economic growth and promote innovation. The DG also explored potential collaborations in enhancing cybersecurity to support Nigeria’s long-term development goals under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Additionally, the NITDA boss was a key participant in the launch of the Universal Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Safeguards Framework. This new framework offers guidelines for the design and implementation of DPI, prioritising public interest and promoting safe, inclusive, and interoperable digital infrastructure. He shared Nigeria’s experience in building a resilient and secure DPI, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable development.

Through these engagements, the NITDA DG showcased Nigeria’s leadership in digital transformation, positioning the country as a key player in Africa’s digital future.