The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, affordable internet connectivity and emerging technologies to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth and bridge the digital divide.
Inuwa made the call during a session titled “Inclusive Growth in the Digital Age” at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES#32), organised by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
He stressed the need to expand telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to ensure that all Nigerians can participate in the country’s growing digital economy.
Reflecting on the development of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector since 2000, the NITDA boss said initial concerns about Africans’ ability to afford mobile phones had been overcome through innovative approaches to infrastructure development and service delivery.
He noted that the sector had recorded significant growth despite challenges such as inadequate electricity, poor road networks and other infrastructure deficits.
According to him, innovation must focus on reducing costs, democratising access to technology and extending connectivity to underserved communities.
Inuwa warned that inadequate digital representation could leave individuals and communities excluded from the benefits of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI).
“If you are not represented, if you are not digitally visible, AI will not see you or consider you when making decisions,” he said.
He explained that the absence of communities from the digital ecosystem could also result in their cultures, values and languages being underrepresented in AI systems and other emerging technologies.
The NITDA director-general said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, was committed to leveraging technology to promote inclusion and national prosperity.
He disclosed that the President had directed the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to develop two major initiatives to expand connectivity nationwide: the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) project and Project BRIDGE.
According to him, the USPF initiative is designed to extend telecommunications coverage to underserved areas through the deployment of base stations, while Project BRIDGE aims to deploy approximately 95,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure across the country.
He said the projects would promote open-access infrastructure, encourage private-sector participation and make broadband services more affordable.
Inuwa also called for a broader approach to infrastructure development, arguing that Nigeria’s digital economy requires investments beyond conventional infrastructure such as roads and railways.
“Today, we are in a digital era; therefore, we need to build digital highways for our data as well,” he said.
He added that investments in data centres, computing capacity and AI factories would be critical to Nigeria’s ambition to harness artificial intelligence for economic development.
Addressing the relationship between connectivity, productivity and affordability, Inuwa said improved telecommunications services could boost economic activities, create business opportunities and increase incomes.
He noted that although telecommunications operators were concerned about consumers’ ability to pay for services, better connectivity could improve productivity and strengthen citizens’ capacity to afford digital services.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise underserved communities, enabling individuals and businesses to use technology to improve their livelihoods, access new markets and participate more effectively in economic activities.
Beyond economic growth, Inuwa said digital infrastructure would help the government improve public service delivery and reduce administrative costs.
He explained that citizens often interact with government institutions at different stages of their lives, including birth registration, healthcare, education, employment, business development and property ownership.
However, he noted that traditional service delivery processes often require citizens to visit multiple government offices to access essential services.
According to him, a well-developed digital infrastructure would enable Nigerians to access public services more conveniently through online platforms, while reducing operational costs and improving efficiency.
Inuwa emphasised that bridging the country’s digital divide required coordinated efforts by government and the private sector, backed by sustained investment in connectivity and advanced technologies.
He reiterated that inclusive digital development was essential to ensuring that all Nigerians benefit from technological innovation, contribute to national productivity and participate meaningfully in the country’s emerging digital economy.
