The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have moved to deepen the digital transformation of Nigeria’s private sector through a strategic partnership designed to accelerate technology adoption, strengthen business competitiveness and unlock new opportunities for innovation.
The partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on the sidelines of GITEX Nigeria by NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, and NACCIMA Director General, Engr. Olusola Obadimu, is expected to create a stronger bridge between government’s digital economy initiatives and the needs of businesses across the country.
For NACCIMA, which serves as the umbrella body of Nigeria’s organised private sector, the agreement comes at a critical time when businesses are increasingly required to embrace digital technologies to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Obadimu described the partnership as a timely intervention that would help position Nigerian businesses, particularly those in the private sector, to take greater advantage of digital transformation.
“It is an excellent arrangement to have this type of protocol on digitisation and digital transformation, especially for the private sector,” he said.
“NACCIMA is the umbrella body of the organised private sector in Nigeria, and digital transformation is a necessity. There is no better partner to work with than NITDA, and we are happy to sign this MoU and move the partnership forward.”
Under the agreement, both organisations will collaborate on the development of a digital ecosystem platform designed to connect businesses and relevant stakeholders, while also promoting enterprise digital transformation among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Other areas of cooperation include the promotion of digital innovation and technology adoption, capacity building for Nigerian businesses, and strategic collaboration toward the successful development and institutionalisation of the Digital Nigeria International Conference (DNICE) 2026 and subsequent editions.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen connections between government institutions, private-sector organisations, technology companies, academia, investors and development partners, thereby creating a more coordinated ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship and technology-led economic growth.
Obadimu stressed that the agreement would not be allowed to remain merely a policy document, disclosing that both organisations were prepared to begin implementation immediately.
“We are going to hit the ground running as soon as we return to our offices for the implementation of this agreement. Nigerians will begin to see things happen almost instantaneously,” he stated.
He further highlighted the potential impact of the collaboration on Nigeria’s youthful population, particularly young innovators and entrepreneurs whose activities are increasingly shaping the country’s emerging digital economy.
“Digitalisation is the way to go. As you can see, we have a youthful population, and they are the ones driving this process. We should encourage them and give them all the necessary support to go beyond Nigeria and compete on the global stage,” he said.
The collaboration reinforces NITDA’s broader mandate of advancing Nigeria’s digital economy through technology innovation, digital literacy and enterprise transformation, while drawing on NACCIMA’s extensive reach across the organised private sector.
By combining NITDA’s technical and policy leadership with NACCIMA’s nationwide business network, the partnership is expected to provide Nigerian enterprises with greater access to digital tools, skills, innovation opportunities and strategic connections needed to compete more effectively in both domestic and international markets.
