Nigeria is staking its claim as the next frontier of the global digital economy, driven by a young, digital-native population and a rapidly expanding market.
At the heart of this ambition is the country’s collaboration with the United States to build a secure, trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem, with emphasis on data privacy, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and capacity building.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, reaffirmed this commitment while delivering an address at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building Workshop organised by the U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission and key stakeholders in the digital ecosystem.
Expressing his excitement at the engagement, Inuwa described the workshop as a strong revalidation of the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United States in advancing the country’s technical and digital systems.
According to him, the collaboration is not a new initiative but part of a growing and deliberate effort by both countries to jointly address emerging digital challenges and opportunities.
He recalled that in April 2024, Nigeria and the United States, through the U.S.–Nigeria Binational Commission, agreed to work together on key areas including data privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, capacity building, and other aspects of digital development.
That same year, Nigeria co-hosted an Artificial Intelligence Conference with the U.S. Mission in Nigeria and engaged with U.S. cybersecurity companies to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening its technical ecosystem.
Inuwa explained that NITDA’s emphasis on data privacy, AI, cybersecurity, and policy is anchored on one central objective: building trust in the digital ecosystem.
He noted that trust is a critical enabler of digital transformation, adding that its absence slows down innovation and increases costs, while its presence accelerates progress and reduces barriers to growth.
The NITDA boss stressed that building a prosperous digital economy requires deliberate efforts to safeguard data privacy, strengthen security frameworks, and deploy AI responsibly.
“Artificial intelligence relies on data, data demands privacy, and privacy can only be guaranteed through strong security, making it impossible to address these issues in isolation,” he said.
He described the workshop as the beginning of broader engagements and deeper collaboration in other strategic areas, particularly as Nigeria continues to position itself as a key player in the global digital economy.
Inuwa disclosed that following the participation of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Conference last year, plans are underway to expand the conference into an international cybersecurity platform this year.
According to him, the international conference will provide an opportunity for U.S. cybersecurity companies to showcase their technologies, explore partnerships with Nigerian firms developing local cyber solutions, and jointly strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
Inuwa also reassured partners and stakeholders of NITDA’s commitment to building the right policies and enabling environment for innovation to thrive.
He emphasized that while many public and private sector organisations in Nigeria rely on U.S. technologies to build their digital systems, the country also possesses significant local talent capable of developing homegrown solutions to address national and regional challenges.
NITDA, he added, remains committed to working with international partners to build local capacity and promote Nigeria’s digital self-determination.
According to the DG, digital technology is no longer optional, as it represents the future of economic growth and development.
“The only way to fully harness the opportunities of the ongoing AI revolution is by safeguarding privacy, establishing sound policies, and laying a strong digital foundation capable of supporting rapid technological advancement,” he said.
He appreciated the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for their continued partnership and support, expressing optimism that the collaboration will be further strengthened to explore new areas of cooperation, particularly in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, for the mutual benefit of both countries.