The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the United States to build a secure, trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem, with strong emphasis on data privacy, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and capacity building.
Inuwa made this known while delivering an address at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building Workshop, organised by the United States Department of State in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission and key stakeholders in the digital ecosystem.
He described the workshop as a reaffirmation of the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, noting that the collaboration represents a deliberate and expanding effort to jointly address emerging digital challenges and opportunities.
The NITDA Director General recalled that in April 2024, Nigeria and the United States, through the U.S.–Nigeria Binational Commission, agreed to cooperate in critical areas including data privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, capacity building, and broader digital development.
He further noted that the same year witnessed the successful hosting of an Artificial Intelligence Conference co-hosted by the Nigerian Government and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, as well as engagements with U.S. cybersecurity companies to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s technical ecosystem.
According to Inuwa, NITDA’s focus on data privacy, AI, cybersecurity, and policy development is driven by one central objective—building trust in the digital ecosystem. He explained that trust is a critical enabler of digital transformation, stressing that its absence slows innovation and raises costs, while its presence accelerates growth and reduces barriers.
He emphasised that a prosperous digital economy requires deliberate efforts to safeguard data privacy, strengthen security frameworks, and deploy artificial intelligence responsibly, noting that AI depends on data, data requires privacy, and privacy can only be guaranteed through strong security measures.
Inuwa described the workshop as a foundation for broader engagement and deeper collaboration, especially as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in the global digital economy. He disclosed plans to expand Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Conference into an international cybersecurity platform, following the participation of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria at last year’s edition.
He explained that the international conference would provide opportunities for U.S. cybersecurity firms to showcase innovations, explore partnerships with Nigerian companies developing local solutions, and jointly strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
The NITDA boss reassured stakeholders of the Agency’s commitment to creating the right policies and enabling environment for innovation to thrive, noting that Nigeria and Africa represent the next frontier of the digital economy, driven by a youthful, digital-native population and a rapidly expanding market.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s reliance on U.S. technologies, Inuwa emphasised that the country also possesses significant local talent capable of developing homegrown digital solutions. He reiterated NITDA’s resolve to work with international partners to build local capacity and promote Nigeria’s digital self-determination.
He concluded by appreciating the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for their continued support, expressing optimism that the partnership would be further strengthened, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, for the mutual benefit of both countries.
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