Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General/CEO, NITDA
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is the Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria’s technology agency created in 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information technology Policy and coordinate general Information Technology development in the country. The agency was mandated to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of information technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria. Before his appointment as the Director General, Abdullahi’s vast experience built on his performance in different capacities working with Galaxy Backbone for a period of 3 years as Senior Network Engineer and later joining NITDA in strategic roles till 2019. His appointment in 2019 to serve as the Director General/CEO, NITDA by Muhammadu Buhari, former President of Nigeria led to giant strides driven by innovation and fostering digital inclusion across the entire country. In October 2023, Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed Abdullahi’s tenure, affirming his commitment to advancing the nation’s digital agenda.
As the current Director-General/CEO of NITDA, Abdullahi leads strategic initiatives aimed at advancing Nigeria’s ICT ecosystem. Under his guidance, NITDA has successfully implemented several strategic initiatives and projects to promote digital inclusion, drive innovation, create jobs and improve access to critical IT[18] infrastructure nationwide.
The impact of NITDA on Nigeria’s ICT sector through the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and its Strategic Roadmap has significantly contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the first quarter of 2020, the sector contributed 14.07% to the GDP, which increased to 17.92% in the second quarter of 2021, rose to 18.44% in the second quarter of 2022, and to over 19.5% in the second quarter of 2023. Abdullahi’s expertise and leadership have played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s IT industry. Since assuming the role of Director General at NITDA, he has prioritised skills development, upskilling, and reskilling over 1.5 million Nigerians across various career disciplines. Additionally, he has been instrumental in formulating critical policy frameworks guiding the Nigerian government’s interventions in the IT ecosystem.
In 2019, Abdullahi oversaw the issuance of endorsement certificates to over 1,000 Indigenous IT companies and service providers, as part of NITDA’s commitment to supporting local businesses. Abdullahi also facilitated the issuance of licenses to 12 local OEMs and over 100 data protection companies, contributing to Nigeria’s competitive IT landscape.Abdullahi’s leadership at NITDA has been marked by transformative rebranding of the Agency with approved Conditions and Scheme of Service through internal design, development and implementation of the “Systemic Reform and Development of NITDA” to train and maintain skilled staff[34] and emerge as a dynamic force driving innovation and progress in the ICT sector. One of Abdullahi’s notable achievements was spearheading the development and implementation of the NITDA Strategic Roadmap & Action Plan (SRAP2021-2024), a blueprint to provide direction and ensure the consolidation of the gains of the digital economy, as well as creation of jobs, particularly for Nigeria’s youth.
Abdullahi’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital landscape is evident in his multifaceted approach to capacity building and Human resource development. Through initiatives like the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) and the Nigeria Digital Agriculture Strategy (NDAS-2020-2030), he aimed to equip farmers with modern technology and innovative farming techniques. Additionally, he supported the design and implementation of IT clearance for government MDAs streamlined processes, which cleared 866 projects from 336 Federal Public Institutions (FPIs), saving the government ₦305.96 billion since 2019.
Abdullahi’s leadership led to significant achievements in information security and digital innovation. His agency’s attainment of ISO 27001:2013 Certification marked a milestone for the Agency, showcasing Abdullahi’s dedication to high standards in data management. He also encouraged the promotion of Nigerian content in IT through improved ICT goods and services and worked on bridging the digital divide by deploying 320 digital economy centers. These efforts not only empowered citizens with digital resources but also attracted a total inflow of US$4.04 billion in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), reflecting international confidence in Nigeria’s digital future under Abdullahi’s guidance. He unveiled the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to inspire the creation of innovative solutions to domestic issues, support the incubation of ideas and develop an enabling environment for start-ups to thrive. Through ONDI, 758 start-ups were supported by working with foreign-based collaborators such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support (TIES) Scheme, Next Innovation with Japan (NINJA) Acceleration Programme, Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria programme and Idea Hatch (iHatch) Incubation programme.
He also unveiled the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), another SPV to promote research and development of emerging technologies and their practical applications in areas of national interest. This SPV has allowed for seamless communication between NITDA and the start-up ecosystem, improved trust between both parties, serves as a bridge between developmental regulation and rapid innovation and has paved the way for a more sustainable and dynamic digital economy.