News Highlights:
- Both NITDA and NIPSS reaffirmed a strategic partnership to align policy, research, and capacity building in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and strengthening the Orange Economy.
- NITDA emphasised digital literacy (targeting 70% by 2027), infrastructure, and innovation support, while identifying key challenges: funding gaps, weak IP protection, and ecosystem fragmentation, as critical areas requiring coordinated action.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) have strengthened their collaboration in a renewed push to align policy, innovation, and capacity development toward accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and expanding the Orange Economy.
The engagement took centre stage as NITDA hosted the Director General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, alongside participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 48, 2026.
Building on an earlier strategic study tour, the visit created an avenue for deeper policy dialogue on how digital innovation can drive sustainable economic growth, particularly within Nigeria’s rapidly evolving creative sector.
Represented by, Dr Aristotle Onumo, NITDA’s Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasised the agency’s strategic focus on building an inclusive and innovation-driven ecosystem.
“NITDA is committed to creating an enabling environment where innovation can thrive by bringing together government, private sector, academia, and creatives to drive Nigeria’s digital economy,” he stated.
Inuwa underscored the increasing relevance of the Orange Economy as a key lever for growth, noting its capacity to generate economic value through intellectual property across sectors such as digital content creation, film, animation, and digital art.
“The Orange Economy represents a powerful opportunity to transform our rich cultural heritage and creativity into sustainable economic growth,” he noted.
He further pointed to Nigeria’s demographic advantage, stressing that stronger, coordinated collaboration would be critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
“With our youthful population and rich cultural assets, Nigeria is well-positioned to become a global leader in the Orange Economy if we deepen collaboration and investment across the ecosystem,” he added.
During the session, NITDA outlined a range of strategic interventions designed to support both the digital and creative industries. These include investments in digital infrastructure, expanded digital literacy programmes, and policy frameworks aimed at enabling startups and innovators to scale sustainably.
However, the agency acknowledged persistent structural constraints. Inuwa highlighted challenges such as limited access to funding, infrastructure deficits, weak intellectual property protection, and fragmentation within the ecosystem, calling for a more coordinated national response.
“Addressing challenges such as funding gaps, infrastructure deficits, and intellectual property protection is critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s creative economy,” he said.
Reinforcing its long-term vision, NITDA reiterated its target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027, noting that ongoing initiatives are already equipping millions of Nigerians, including those in underserved and informal sectors, with essential digital skills.
In his remarks, Professor Omotayo described the visit as a valuable platform for policy insight, particularly on the transformative role of digital technologies across economic sectors, adding that lessons from the engagement would inform policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economic architecture.
Participants of the SEC 48 programme also engaged actively, raising critical questions around capacity development, access to digital tools, and frameworks for protecting creative content.
In response, NITDA highlighted its collaborations with industry stakeholders to expand training opportunities, innovation hubs, and access to technology for young Nigerians.
The session concluded with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration in research, policy formulation, and capacity building, efforts aimed at positioning Nigeria as a globally competitive player in the digital and creative economy.