NITDA: Nigeria’s Digital Future Must Be Built on Trust, Accountability

The National Information Technology Development Agency has called for stronger trust, transparency, inclusion and accountability in Nigeria’s digital governance as the country accelerates its digital transformation.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at the Multi-Stakeholder Coordinating Group meeting on Digital Governance in Abuja, themed “Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Inclusive Digital Governance in Nigeria.”

Inuwa, who was represented by the Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said Nigeria must move beyond discussions about what technology can do and pay greater attention to how technology is governed.

He identified key questions that must be addressed, including who should be held responsible when digital systems fail, how algorithmic decisions can be explained, how citizens’ privacy can be protected while encouraging innovation, and how digital services can be made accessible to Nigerians in rural communities.

Using artificial intelligence in government grant disbursement as an example, Inuwa said authorities must establish clear accountability frameworks around the technology.

He explained that government should clearly define who approves such systems, the type of data they use, how decisions are reached and how citizens can challenge decisions they believe are incorrect.

The NITDA chief described digital governance as “the steering wheel, traffic rules and brakes” of Nigeria’s digital transformation, stressing that effective governance would help ensure that technological advancement takes place safely and fairly.

He also emphasised that government cannot achieve an inclusive digital economy alone.

According to him, building a digitally inclusive Nigeria requires sustained collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations, academic institutions, technology companies and citizens.