Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and North West University have commenced discussions on a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening digital capacity, research, innovation and technology-driven education at the institution.
The engagement between the NITDA leadership and the university’s management focused on deploying technology more effectively to improve teaching, research, innovation and the employability of graduates.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, said the proposed collaboration should be structured to deliver sustainable outcomes rather than one-off interventions.
Inuwa described universities as critical drivers of Nigeria’s digital transformation, noting that they are responsible for producing the skilled workforce, knowledge and research needed to sustain technological advancement.
He said Nigeria’s digital development strategy must therefore prioritise institutional strengthening and human capital development.
The NITDA DG also identified the persistent mismatch between university training and industry requirements as a major challenge to graduate employability, urging universities to build stronger relationships with employers and technology companies.
He called for regular reviews of academic curricula to ensure that students are exposed to emerging technologies and equipped with practical skills relevant to both the Nigerian and global labour markets.
“We need to create an ecosystem where the university produces the human capital required by government and the private sector, while industry also contributes to the development of relevant skills and research,” Inuwa said.
He disclosed that NITDA was promoting digital literacy through the National Digital Literacy Framework and encouraged the university to integrate digital literacy into its General Studies programme.
Beyond basic digital skills, the NITDA DG urged the institution to strengthen programmes in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and robotics.
He also encouraged the university to leverage the National Universities Commission’s Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards framework to develop academic programmes that respond to technological developments and emerging opportunities in the economy.
Inuwa cited the collaboration between NITDA, Nasarawa State University and Cisco as an example of how partnerships between academia and industry can provide students with practical exposure, professional certifications and academic recognition.
He said the proposed partnership with North West University should extend beyond digital infrastructure to research and innovation, particularly projects capable of addressing real-world challenges.
The NITDA boss advocated the early involvement of government agencies and private-sector players in university research, noting that such partnerships could accelerate the transition of research findings from the laboratory and classroom into practical solutions.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, presents the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan to the Vice-Chancellor of North West University, Professor Amina Salihi, during her working visit to NITDA Headquarters in Abuja.
He identified technical training, innovation laboratories, research collaboration and partnerships with global technology companies as potential areas of NITDA support.
Inuwa stressed that sustainable digital development should not be measured simply by the number of computers and other devices supplied to an institution.
According to him, while equipment eventually becomes obsolete, investments in knowledge, skills, research and innovation continue to deliver long-term benefits.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of North West University, Professor Amina Salihi, said her administration had placed digital transformation and research at the centre of its development agenda.
Salihi said the university’s 14-point agenda was designed to reposition the institution as a competitive 21st-century university, stressing that technology was indispensable to improving its academic standards, global visibility and ranking.
She noted that the university had recorded significant growth since its establishment in 2012, expanding from four faculties, one campus and about 1,000 students to 10 faculties and approximately 30,000 students.
According to her, the institution had also expanded its infrastructure, academic programmes and support facilities, including a teaching hospital for its medical programme.
The Vice-Chancellor, who assumed office in December 2025, said her administration had conducted assessments to identify areas requiring urgent attention, with infrastructure, power and digital technology emerging as key priorities.
She disclosed that construction of a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centre was underway through the intervention of a philanthropist who had committed to providing the facility.
Salihi appealed to NITDA to support the centre with the required IT equipment, explaining that the facility could be developed into an accredited centre for recruitment examinations and professional tests.
She also announced plans to establish an Open and Distance Learning Centre, stressing that the initiative would require reliable digital infrastructure and technical support.
The Vice-Chancellor further appealed for additional digital devices, including laptops, to improve academic and administrative operations across the university.
She said the institution had benefited from interventions by the state government, TETFund, the Energy Commission and private philanthropists, particularly in student accommodation and renewable energy.
She disclosed that a two-megawatt solarisation project was being implemented at the main campus, while another solar power project was underway at the city campus.
Salihi expressed optimism that the engagement with NITDA would culminate in a structured partnership capable of addressing the university’s technology needs while creating opportunities for research, innovation and digital skills development.
The proposed collaboration is expected to provide a framework for joint initiatives covering digital infrastructure, computer-based testing, open and distance learning, emerging technologies, research, innovation and human capital development.
Both institutions are expected to continue discussions towards defining specific areas of cooperation and developing a sustainable partnership that will contribute to strengthening digital education, research and innovation within Nigeria’s university system.
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