The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is deepening its partnership with the United States in building a reliable digital ecosystem. This is part of Nigeria’s effort to extend international collaboration on data governance.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, while delivering an address at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building Workshop organised by the United States Department of State, in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission in Abuja.
In a statement seen by Technext, Inuwa said the synergy will focus on strengthening Nigeria’s technical areas, including data privacy, artificial intelligence, capacity building and cybersecurity. He added that building trust in this digital ecosystem is a critical enabler of digital transformation, thereby enabling innovation and growth to thrive.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to building a trusted, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem. Inuwa mentioned that the plan also aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration push for a digital economy and the priority area tagged ‘Strengthen National Security For Peace And Prosperity.’
The collaboration to build a trust digital economy in Nigeria emanated from the growing United States–Nigeria partnership, which started with the April 2024 Binational Commission and the jointly hosted AI Conference.
Also in the year, the Nigerian Government and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria co-hosted an Artificial Intelligence Conference. The initiative also includes ongoing engagements with U.S. cybersecurity companies to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s technical ecosystem.
While explaining what the development means for the Nigerian digital space, the NITDA Boss stressed that as AI thrives on data, data demands privacy, and privacy depends on strong security. With this, Inuwa noted that issues of data privacy, AI and cybersecurity cannot be addressed in isolation.
In addition, the DG mentioned that the only way to fully harness the opportunities of the ongoing AI revolution is by strengthening data privacy, establishing policies, and laying a strong digital foundation for rapid technological advancement.
He noted that digital technology is no longer optional, as it represents the future of economic growth and development. As such, no nation can afford to be left behind in this transformation.
NITDA: Strengthening cybersecurity through collaboration
Following the participation of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Conference in 2025, NITDA is planning to expand the conference into an international cybersecurity platform this year.
The collaboration comes at a time when a robust cybersecurity framework and initiative are building resilience and fostering a secure environment for digital transformation that mitigates data and financial risk.
Inuwa explained that the initiative is aimed at further exploring partnerships and building capacity for Nigeria’s digital self-determination. As U.S. cybersecurity companies showcase their technologies, they’ll explore partnerships with Nigerian firms and local talents developing cyber solutions to jointly strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
NITDA reaffirms its commitment to creating the right policies and enabling environment for innovation that positions Nigeria and Africa as the next frontier of the global digital economy.
