By Stella Odueme
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 promote inclusive participation in the digital economy.
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.
According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar on Thursday, he stressed the need to expand telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to ensure that all Nigerians have access to digital opportunities.
Reflecting on the development of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector since 2000, the NITDA chief recalled that investors initially expressed doubts about the ability of Africans to afford mobile phones.
However, he noted that innovation in infrastructure development and service delivery had transformed the industry despite challenges such as inadequate electricity supply, poor road networks and other infrastructural deficiencies.
According to him, future innovation must focus on reducing connectivity costs, expanding network coverage and ensuring that underserved communities are not excluded from the benefits of digital transformation.
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Inuwa warned that inadequate digital representation could also affect how communities are recognised by artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly in the representation of their cultures, values and languages.
“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 digital connectivity had become essential to economic participation and social inclusion as AI increasingly influences decision-making and service delivery across different sectors.
The NITDA director-general also highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to expanding nationwide connectivity through strategic digital infrastructure projects.
He said the President had directed the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to conceptualise two major initiatives: the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) project and Project BRIDGE.
According to Inuwa, the USPF initiative seeks to extend telecommunications services to underserved communities through the deployment of base stations, while Project BRIDGE is designed to provide approximately 95,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure across the country.
He said the projects would promote open-access infrastructure, encourage private-sector investment and make broadband services more affordable.
Inuwa further argued that infrastructure development must go beyond conventional investments in roads, railways and other physical assets to accommodate the growing demands of the digital economy.
“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 efforts to harness artificial intelligence for economic development.
Addressing the relationship between connectivity and affordability, Inuwa observed that telecommunications operators often worry about consumers’ ability to pay for services, while improved connectivity could increase productivity, create business opportunities and raise household incomes.
He maintained that extending digital services to rural communities would enable individuals and businesses to improve their livelihoods, access wider markets and participate more effectively in economic activities.
Beyond its economic implications, he said, digital infrastructure could help government institutions improve public service delivery, reduce administrative costs and make essential services more accessible.
Inuwa noted that citizens routinely interact with government agencies for services such as birth registration, healthcare, education, employment, business registration, marriage and property ownership.
He explained that a well-developed digital ecosystem would reduce the need for citizens to visit multiple government offices to access such services, thereby improving convenience and operational efficiency.
The NITDA chief called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector, alongside sustained investment in connectivity and advanced digital technologies.
He reiterated that bridging the digital divide was essential to ensuring that Nigerians across all communities could benefit from technological innovation, contribute to national productivity and participate fully in the country’s digital economy.