Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Government is stepping up efforts to fast-track Nigeria’s digital transformation, with a proposed e-governance and digital economy bill set to unlock wider adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies across the public sector.
At the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardisation (GIST) Nigeria stakeholder workshop in Abuja, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, said the country has moved from policy design to full-scale implementation of its national AI roadmap.
Inuwa, who represented the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani noted that the current phase focuses on developing regulatory frameworks and guidelines to ensure ethical, accountable, and secure deployment of AI technologies.
He disclosed that the government is also prioritising data classification to support the availability of reliable datasets for AI systems while promoting cloud adoption across public institutions to improve efficiency and service delivery.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, who represented the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardisation (GIST) Nigeria Introductory Stakeholder Workshop in Abuja.
According to him, a “cloud-first” policy is critical to achieving large-scale digital transformation, though it will be implemented with safeguards to protect national data and digital sovereignty.
The government is also advancing key digital infrastructure, including an interoperability framework, the Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture, and a data exchange platform to support Government Statistics Digital Public Infrastructure.
Officials said the initiatives are expected to enhance coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies, while creating opportunities for private sector participation in digital projects.
Inuwa stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry, and stakeholders to build resilient digital systems that support innovation, transparency, and inclusive growth.
Also speaking, the European Commission Team Leader for Digital Governance, Peter Marien, emphasised the importance of international cooperation in shaping global digital standards.
He noted that the European Union’s digital strategy prioritises partnerships and ecosystem alignment, describing Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s drive toward a unified digital market.
Marien added that platforms such as GIST help align technical standards and promote knowledge exchange, describing standards as critical to the functioning of modern digital economies.
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