By Stella Odueme
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have explored strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation, attracting technology investments and strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, stated this when he received a delegation of American business and technology representatives led by the President of the U.S.-Africa Business Centre, Kendra Gaither, during a visit to the agency.
According to the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, on Tuesday, the delegation included representatives of Microsoft, Citi Bank, Cavista Holdings, Flutterwave, Tolaram Group, the American Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Embassy.
Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration in digital transformation, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data governance, workforce development and technology investment.
Inuwa said Nigeria was committed to building a resilient, inclusive and competitive digital economy through policies designed to attract international investments, strengthen local capacity and safeguard the country’s digital future.
He explained that Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda centred on ensuring citizens had access to essential digital services while creating opportunities for them to participate in value creation within the digital economy.
According to him, the government’s digital sovereignty initiative is designed to strengthen national control over critical digital infrastructure, improve resilience and reduce vulnerabilities associated with disruptions to technology services.
He clarified that the initiative was not intended to shut out foreign technology companies but to encourage them to invest in Nigeria and partner with local businesses to develop sustainable digital solutions.
“It’s not about politics. It’s not about locking our doors against anybody, but it’s about inviting you to come and build with us,” Inuwa said.
The NITDA chief stressed the need to expand domestic data centres and cloud infrastructure, noting that such investments would stimulate local businesses, promote innovation and position Nigeria as a technology hub for West and Central Africa.
He disclosed that the Federal Government invested more than ₦4.5 trillion in information technology between June 2023 and June 2026, adding that appropriate policies and infrastructure could help direct relevant government technology services towards locally hosted sovereign cloud platforms.
Addressing concerns about data localisation and regulatory compliance, particularly within the financial technology sector, Inuwa said NITDA was working with relevant regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, to develop an assurance framework that would clarify technical requirements, facilitate compliance and encourage investment in local infrastructure.
He also emphasised the importance of flexibility and competition in the technology sector, arguing that organisations should be able to migrate their services between providers based on their operational needs.
“We need that portability. If Google has better services, I should be able to move my services from Microsoft to Google or AWS,” he said.
Inuwa added that government policies would promote fair competition among technology providers while allowing public and private sector organisations to adopt solutions that best meet their needs.
He noted that NITDA had previously engaged major international technology companies, local service providers and other stakeholders in developing Nigeria’s cloud-first policy.
The director-general urged the visiting companies to maintain engagement with the agency and align their investments and solutions with the country’s digital development priorities.
In response to a proposal by Cavista Holdings on digital transformation, workforce development and employment-oriented skills programmes, Inuwa invited the company to submit a formal proposal for consideration by the appropriate NITDA team.
Earlier, Gaither said the American business community was interested in strengthening commercial relations with Nigeria, identifying digital transformation, regulatory clarity and investment predictability as key factors in expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
She described Nigeria as an important player in Africa’s information technology and digital economy, noting that its policy decisions had implications for businesses operating across West Africa and the wider continent.
Gaither said the delegation sought constructive engagement with NITDA to understand Nigeria’s evolving digital regulatory framework and identify areas for mutually beneficial cooperation.
She also highlighted concerns about overlapping regulatory responsibilities and the need for greater clarity in cloud computing, data governance and financial services.
According to her, a secure, competitive and predictable regulatory environment would help Nigerian and international businesses understand compliance requirements and make informed long-term investment decisions.
Gaither reaffirmed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s readiness to facilitate further discussions between NITDA and its member companies, expressing confidence that sustained engagement would help address regulatory uncertainties, strengthen investor confidence and promote partnerships that support Nigeria’s digital transformation.