The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for a human-centred approach to digital transformation, stressing that technology must ultimately improve lives, expand opportunities and promote inclusion.
Abdullahi made the call while participating in a high-level global dialogue on digital innovation, emerging technologies and sustainable development, alongside world leaders and development champions.
The high-level session featured the President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Khalilur Rahman; President of Timor-Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate, José Ramos-Horta; Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay; Brazil’s State Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, Wellington Dias; and Pakistan’s Minister of State and Chairman of the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, Bilal Bin Saqib.
Also featured was Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, founder of Grameen Bank and Chair of the Global Committee on Social Business for Sustainable Development Goals, who delivered a high-level keynote address.
AI, Digital Skills As Tools For Inclusive Growth
Abdullahi’s participation highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to position digital innovation and emerging technologies as tools for inclusive economic growth and sustainable national development.
According to NITDA, the focus for Nigeria includes strengthening artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship as part of efforts to ensure broader participation in the digital economy.
Abdullahi said, “The true measure of digital transformation is not the sophistication of the technology we deploy, but the number of lives we improve, opportunities we create, and people we empower to participate in the digital economy.”
He stressed that digital transformation should go beyond technological advancement to produce tangible improvements in people’s lives.
NITDA said the agency remains committed to contributing to global discussions on how technology and innovation can accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals while ensuring that no one is left behind in the emerging digital future.
