By Stella Odueme
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for a shift from Nigeria’s certificate-driven education system to a capability-based economy that prioritises practical skills, innovation and problem-solving.
Inuwa said the country’s economic transformation would depend on its ability to translate academic knowledge and scientific discoveries into practical solutions, productive enterprises and improved living standards.
He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 3rd International Biennial Conference of the College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS 2026) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State.
The NITDA boss, who was represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, spoke on the theme, “From Scientific Discovery to National Prosperity: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Convergent Innovation to Transform Nigeria.”
In a statement by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, on Wednesday, he stressed that universities must move beyond conventional academic practices and embrace interdisciplinary research, emerging technologies and practical approaches to addressing national challenges.
According to him, Nigeria’s progress should not be measured solely by the volume of research conducted or academic publications produced, but by the extent to which such knowledge generates innovation, creates businesses and improves public services.
“The future of our country will not be determined simply by how much research we produce. It will be determined by how effectively we convert research into productivity, innovation, enterprise and national prosperity,” he said.
Inuwa explained that Artificial Intelligence (AI) was creating new opportunities for collaboration across agriculture, healthcare, environmental science, mathematics, engineering and data science.
He noted that AI could strengthen scientific research and human expertise, rather than replace researchers or undermine the importance of human judgment.
“AI does not replace science. It amplifies science,” he stated.
Illustrating the potential of emerging technologies, he explained that combining agricultural science with satellite imagery, climate modelling, Internet of Things sensors and AI could help farmers make better planting decisions, detect crop diseases, improve irrigation, reduce waste and access market information.
He, however, cautioned that technology-driven solutions must reflect Nigeria’s local realities, including language diversity, affordability, limited internet connectivity and the specific needs of intended users.
The NITDA director-general also highlighted the potential of AI in healthcare and climate resilience, particularly in disease surveillance, clinical decision support, flood-risk forecasting and early-warning systems.
He emphasised that such applications must be developed and deployed responsibly, with adequate safeguards for data privacy, accountability, fairness and public trust.
Inuwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital transformation through digital literacy, talent development, infrastructure expansion, innovation and responsible technology adoption.
He identified NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), Digital Literacy for All initiative (DL4ALL) and 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as key interventions aimed at building the skills needed for a technology-driven economy.
He also underscored the need for reliable internet connectivity, modern research infrastructure, quality datasets, secure cloud environments and dependable electricity to enable universities and research institutions to compete effectively and develop locally relevant solutions.
According to him, stronger partnerships among government, academia, industry, investors and entrepreneurs are necessary to transform promising research into commercially viable products and services.
Addressing higher education institutions, Inuwa urged universities to reconsider how they measure academic success by giving greater attention to research impact, collaborative problem-solving, entrepreneurship and the ability of graduates to create employment opportunities.
“The university of the future cannot remain merely a place where knowledge is transmitted, and certificates are awarded. It must become a place where problems are investigated, solutions are developed, enterprises are created, and society is transformed,” he said.
He called on universities to strengthen technology transfer mechanisms, establish effective industry partnerships, expand entrepreneurship education and ensure that innovation hubs respond to actual market and community needs.
The NITDA chief further challenged researchers to move beyond publishing academic papers by developing working prototypes, testing solutions in real-world environments and producing sustainable innovations capable of addressing pressing national problems.
Speaking to students, he maintained that academic qualifications remained important but must be complemented by digital and AI literacy, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, ethical judgment and practical problem-solving skills.
“Your certificate may open the door, but your capability will determine how far you go,” he said.
He encouraged students to use emerging technologies to investigate complex questions, explore new possibilities and develop solutions to challenges affecting their communities.
As part of efforts to translate the conference’s deliberations into concrete achievements, Inuwa proposed a 12-month innovation agenda for the College of Physical Sciences and its partners.
Under the proposal, the college is expected to identify priority national challenges within 90 days, establish multidisciplinary research teams and begin developing prototypes within six months, test promising solutions with communities and industry partners within nine months, and organise a research-to-impact showcase within 12 months.
He said the initiative should be evaluated based on measurable results, including validated prototypes, productive partnerships, commercialisation opportunities and demonstrable societal benefits.
He also urged conference organisers to build on the technical sessions and proposal-writing workshop by developing collaborative research projects capable of attracting funding.
Inuwa expressed NITDA’s willingness to explore structured collaborations with academic and research institutions in areas aligned with its mandate, particularly digital skills development, responsible AI, indigenous innovation and the practical application of emerging technologies.
He stressed that successful partnerships must be guided by clearly defined problems and credible implementation plans.
The director-general challenged researchers, university administrators and students to assess the value of their work by the problems it solves, the lives it improves and the benefits it delivers to the country.
“Let this conference be remembered not merely as another gathering of brilliant minds, but as a turning point where we resolved to convert the power of science into the prosperity of our nation,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Olusola Babatunde, represented by the Dean of the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM), Professor Olusegun Oguntoke, commended NITDA for its contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Babatunde appealed to the agency to establish an Information Technology (IT) Hub at the university, noting that the facility would strengthen digital capacity, support research and innovation, and provide students and researchers with an enabling environment to develop practical, technology-driven solutions.