At a pivotal civil society summit in Abuja, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, made a compelling call for deeper collaboration between the government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), urging them to become co-drivers, not spectators, in the journey towards national development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Civil Society Summit on Civil Democracy and National Development, held at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Inuwa emphasised that Nigeria’s current path requires shared responsibility rather than blame, and warned against the tendency of simply critiquing government efforts without offering solutions or partnership.
“There are things the government can do that civil society cannot, and there are things civil society can do that the government cannot. But together, we can achieve greater things,” he said, encouraging stakeholders to shift from critique to co-creation in national policymaking.
Inuwa laid out the eight key pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda including economic reform, national security, agricultural transformation, natural resource development, infrastructure expansion, social sector enhancement, industrial diversification, and improved governance, arguing that only a national consensus can ensure meaningful progress across these areas.
“If we agree on this vision, then we must move forward together, irrespective of who is in government. What matters is continuity of vision, and the collective will to implement it,” he stated, advocating for a united front that transcends political affiliations.
The NITDA DG also underscored the transformative power of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in unlocking productivity in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education, citing an ongoing partnership between NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to deploy a digital citizen engagement platform powered by AI, an initiative aimed at involving young Nigerians in co-creating impactful government policies.
“Technology gives us tools to scale ideas and boost productivity tenfold. Nigeria does not lack ideas; what we need are the tools and will to implement them on time,” Inuwa asserted.
He concluded by addressing the trust gap between citizens and government, attributing it to insufficient engagement. Building trust, he said, is essential to achieving national transformation.
“Mr. President has a vision for Nigeria. Therefore, we should all work together to support him in achieving that vision. If we agree, we have a consensus that will help us to build trust. And when we build trust, we can win the battle today and make Nigeria great,” he said.
Digital TimesNG gathered that the summit served as a vital platform for fostering dialogue, reinforcing civic responsibility, and affirming the indispensable role of CSOs in Nigeria’s democratic and developmental progress.