Nigeria’s push for inclusive economic growth and rural transformation will depend greatly on how effectively renewable energy and digital innovation are harnessed to empower citizens, especially those in underserved areas, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has said.
Speaking as a panellist at the Civil Society Policy Forum during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., Inuwa described renewable energy as a “fundamental enabler” of digital inclusion and economic empowerment.
“Renewable energy is not the destination. It is a catalyst. When there is power, connectivity follows, and that connectivity triggers true transformation,” he said.
Inuwa painted a vivid picture of how clean energy and digital access can uplift rural communities, drive entrepreneurship, and expand opportunity.
“A farmer equipped with a simple app can double his income, send his child to school, and employ others. A young person with internet access doesn’t need to migrate to Abuja or Lagos, he can work from his village and earn in dollars,” he noted.
The NITDA boss linked these outcomes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises sustainability, diversification, and inclusivity.
He explained that Nigeria’s digital economy blueprint under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is anchored on five pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade, while NITDA’s operational framework expands this to eight strategic pillars, including digital literacy, research, cybersecurity, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
According to him, NITDA’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education will see digital literacy integrated into the national curriculum, from kindergarten to tertiary levels. Digital competence, he added, is now a requirement for employment and promotion within the civil service.
Through these initiatives, the agency targets training 50 million Nigerians by 2027, building a workforce equipped to sustain the country’s digital transformation.
“Our vision is clear, our journey is set, and our resolve is stronger than ever. We invite everyone to join us in building a digitally empowered and prosperous Nigeria,” Inuwa affirmed.
Also speaking at the forum, Fowzia Hassan, Senior Operations Officer for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, reiterated the Bank’s dedication to expanding energy access across Africa through its ambitious Mission 300 (M300) initiative, which aims to achieve 300 million new connections by 2030.
“Access to energy has always been central to the Bank’s development agenda, but with M300, we’ve set a clear target, a deadline, and the resources to make it happen,” Hassan said.
She explained that the initiative consolidates efforts by the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA to strengthen regulatory frameworks, attract private investment, and deploy innovative financing instruments, including blended finance and risk-sharing facilities, to reach underserved populations.
Highlighting the gender dimension of energy access, Hassan referenced data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showing that women make up 32 per cent of Africa’s renewable energy workforce, mainly in non-technical roles.
“Women are vital consumers, producers, and decision makers in energy. Yet they face barriers ranging from finance to education and workplace inclusion,” she emphasized.
Among ongoing efforts, she cited the Bank’s collaborations with the African Development Bank (AfDB) on National Energy Compacts, the DAIRS program in Nigeria, designed to mobilize over $1 billion for mini grids and solar systems, and the Women in Energy Network Africa (WEN-Africa), which has already facilitated jobs for 57 women, with a goal of creating 4,000 jobs in the energy sector within three years.
“Creating a clean, inclusive, and just energy transition is not just about connecting homes, it’s about empowering people, especially women and youth, to drive Africa’s prosperity,” Hassan concluded.
