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NITDA Deploys Technology to Turn Youth Voices into Policy Proposal

NITDA Deploys Technology to Turn Youth Voices into Policy Proposal

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is set to deploy technology and artificial intelligence to capture, analyse and organise ideas generated by young Nigerians at the maiden National Youth Conference, with a view to helping government translate their concerns and aspirations into policy proposals for national development.  The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, disclosed this while delivering a goodwill message at the opening ceremony of the youth confab in Abuja, where he described Nigerian youths as a strategic asset to the nation.   He said the gathering was designed to create a more direct channel for young people to communicate their expectations, frustrations and ideas to government.  Inuwa noted that while platforms such as X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok provide powerful avenues for young people to express themselves, the vast volume of content makes it difficult for government to separate genuine aspirations and policy ideas from misinformation and other forms of online noise.  He said the conference would help government “filter the noise” and identify the genuine signals within young people’s conversations. Rather than relying solely on scattered online conversations, the initiative would provide a structured avenue for government to understand what youths want across all areas of the economy.  “It is a deliberate step to make sure your voices, your aspirations, your ideas are brought closer to the heart of national decision-making. This conference is also for the administration to listen to what you want government to do in terms of the economy, job creation, technology, and creating a greater Nigeria”.   Inuwa announced that NITDA, in partnership with the relevant ministry, would use technology to capture contributions from participants, while AI would be deployed to analyse and organise the submissions into thematic areas. The resulting information would then be presented to a committee to support its understanding of the issues raised and inform the development of policy proposals.  According to him, technology would provide opportunities for remote participation, while AI would help capture and interpret the views of a wider pool of young Nigerians, explaining that the objective was to ensure that the process did not leave voices unheard simply because their owners were unable to attend in person.  The NITDA DG assured participants that their contributions would be captured, analysed and recorded, creating a trail through which their ideas could move from the conference floor into the policy process.   “I want to assure you that all your discussions will be captured, and the technology will keep it, and we will present it to the committee, and government will use that to turn your aspirations into ideas, ideas into proposals, proposals into policies for government to build the policies you want’’.  Inuwa said NITDA would remain involved throughout the process, promising that the Agency would support the initiative “end to end” and ensure that the technology-driven engagement was conducted openly and transparently.   His message positioned the youth conference as an effort to establish a structured pathway for capturing their views and feeding them into the government’s policy considerations.  The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, led the dignitaries who graced the opening ceremony. They included the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu; the National President of NANS, Akinteye Hafeez; the academia; and the representatives of Commissioners of Youth Development from the 36 States of the federation.    The National Youth Conference 2026 is a multi-stage national engagement around six broad areas of governance and political participation; entrepreneurship and job creation; climate action and energy transition; education and future-ready skills; technology and digital innovation; and security and social cohesion.   It is designed to draw participation from young Nigerians across the country’s 360 federal constituencies, the six geopolitical zones, and the diaspora. The six geopolitical zones will hold dedicated virtual sessions for 12 days from October 5th – 17th, 2026, with technical support from NITDA.  187 Views

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: NITDA Calls for Unified Front to Protect Digital Nigeria

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026: NITDA Calls for Unified Front to Protect Digital Nigeria

  As digital technology increasingly powers everyday life, commerce, and public governance across Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially launched National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 under the central theme, “Together for a Safer Cyberspace.”  The month-long campaign serves as a national call to action, highlighting that digital safety is no longer solely the responsibility of IT professionals, government agencies, or security experts. Instead, securing Nigeria’s digital landscape requires an active, shared commitment from every citizen, business, and institution participating in the online ecosystem.  With the rapid global shift toward artificial intelligence and automated systems, modern cyber threats have evolved beyond standard phishing. Worldwide security trends point to a sharp rise in sophisticated risks—including AI-driven social engineering, deepfake impersonations, voice cloning, and fraudulent QR code attacks (“quishing”). Building a resilient cyberspace depends heavily on individual vigilance and proactive personal security practices.  To mitigate these emerging threats and safeguard personal and organisational digital assets, NITDA advises all Nigerians to adopt core cyber hygiene habits:   * Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid repeating passwords across multiple accounts, and leverage secure password managers to create and store complex passphrases.   * Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add a vital secondary layer of protection to all personal, professional, and financial accounts to block unauthorised login attempts.   * Maintain Software and Device Hygiene: Promptly install security patches and operating system updates to protect devices against known system vulnerabilities.   * Safeguard Sensitive Financial Credentials: Never share One-Time Passwords (OTPs), personal identification numbers (PINs), or online banking log-in details under any circumstances.   * Exercise Caution with AI and Emerging Online Tools: Practice strict data privacy by avoiding the upload of sensitive personal, financial, or proprietary corporate information into public AI models or unfamiliar online platforms.   * Verify Links and Media Before Interacting: Stay alert to suspicious links, unknown attachments, and unsolicited requests for personal info—especially those using urgent language, synthetic audio, or deepfake visuals.   * Practice Responsible Social Sharing: Mind what is posted publicly on social platforms, as oversharing sensitive details can enable targeted social engineering attacks.   * Maintain Frequent Offline and Cloud Backups: Keep crucial personal and organisational data safely backed up to ensure swift recovery in the event of ransomware or system disruptions.  Through its computer emergency response structure, NITDA remains dedicated to equipping citizens and organisations with the tools, knowledge, and frameworks necessary to mitigate digital risks, report incidents, and foster a secure, inclusive digital economy.  Connect and Engage  Follow official cybersecurity updates, awareness tips, and threat advisories across social media: @NITDANigeria  For Further Inquiries and Incident Reporting:  Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT.ng)   * Website: www.cerrt.ng   * Email: cerrt@nitda.gov.ng  * Phone: +234 817 877 4580 66 Views

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Next-Gen Digital Economy: NITDA Elevates Nigeria to AI-Enabled Global Services

Next-Gen Digital Economy: NITDA Elevates Nigeria to AI-Enabled Global Services

Nigeria’s ambition to establish itself as a premier global hub for digital services gained powerful momentum on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81). During the high-level “Hire from Nigeria” session organized by the Nigeria Economic and Trade Advancement Programme (NATEP), the Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development...

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Global Win: Nigeria Leads the Way in Digital Innovation!

Global Win: Nigeria Leads the Way in Digital Innovation!

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has achieved a major milestone on the global stage, earning prestigious recognition at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards held in Athens, Greece. In a standout collaboration with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), the agency secured two...

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At UNGA 81: NITDA DG Demands Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Digital Talent Beyond Training:

At UNGA 81: NITDA DG Demands Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Digital Talent Beyond Training:

At a high-level panel session titled “Scaling Africa’s Digital Workforce” during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) side event, “Nigeria at Scale: Building Digital Systems for Shared Prosperity,” Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), issued a compelling call to action. Joining H.E. Mark Doumba, Gabon’s ICT...

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Kashifu Inuwa Championing Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Global Human Development

Kashifu Inuwa Championing Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Global Human Development

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, the Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), joined top global leaders and development champions at a high-level summit focused on advancing sustainable and inclusive development. Co-moderated by YY Foundation Managing Director Dominique V. Dauster and WHO Goodwill Ambassador James Chau, the opening session featured prominent world...

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No Entry: Nigeria Blocks Uncertified Devices to Enforce Network Safety

No Entry: Nigeria Blocks Uncertified Devices to Enforce Network Safety

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a new automated compliance initiative to clean up the country’s device ecosystem. Led by the deployment of the Device Management System (DMS), this framework allows the regulator to electronically verify the Type Approval status of all SIM-enabled hardware. By enforcing these strict technical and safety benchmarks, the Commission...

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Powering Digital Core: NITDA’s Data Center Blueprint

Powering Digital Core: NITDA’s Data Center Blueprint

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has outlined Nigeria’s strategic playbook for unlocking the next wave of tech infrastructure capital. Speaking in a powerful contribution to a high-level industry panel on converting digital demand into data center investment, the NITDA boss detailed how the nation intends to turn its...

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Tech Capital Surge: Sovereign Cloud Strategy Prepares Nigeria for Big Investment

Tech Capital Surge: Sovereign Cloud Strategy Prepares Nigeria for Big Investment

Nigeria is redefining its relationship with global tech investors by shifting from a traditional regulator to an active market enabler. Speaking during a fireside chat “From Policy to Investable Demand,” moderated by Jay Katatumba, Senior Investment Director, Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration, at the Nigerian Workshop on Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Opportunity during ITW Data Cloud Africa 2026...

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Nigeria Harnesses $1 Billion Public IT Demand to Power Domestic Cloud Ecosystem

Nigeria Harnesses $1 Billion Public IT Demand to Power Domestic Cloud Ecosystem

Nigeria is issuing an open invitation to global tech giants and local infrastructure developers, positioning itself to shift from a consumer of offshore digital services into West Africa’s premier cloud computing power station. Speaking on the government’s ambitious vision for digital infrastructure, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), outlined...

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