The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has challenged Jigawa State and Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunications (Galaxy ITT) to adopt a strategic approach to digital transformation and economic development.
‎Inuwa made the call at the Galaxy ITT Repositioning Retreat held in Abuja on Thursday, where he expressed concern over the continued dependence of Jigawa State and other parts of Northern Nigeria on federal allocations despite the availability of abundant human and natural resources.
‎He said Jigawa must rethink its development strategy by identifying and harnessing its youthful population, land and other resources to build a sustainable economy capable of thriving without excessive dependence on federal revenue.
‎The NITDA DG identified the lack of clear development plans and excessive focus on politics as some of the major challenges hindering development in Northern Nigeria.
‎He stressed that sustainable development at the individual, state and national levels required clear objectives, strategic planning and measurable targets, urging Jigawa to define what it intends to achieve within the next two to three years and develop practical strategies for attaining those goals.
‎He also recalled the pioneering role played by former Jigawa State Governor, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, in establishing Galaxy ITT and promoting the use of information and communication technology in the state.
‎According to him, Turaki’s initiatives demonstrated foresight, but the lack of continuity in subsequent administrations prevented Jigawa from fully capitalising on the foundation that had been laid.
‎He noted that Jigawa was among the early states to embrace technology-driven development through initiatives such as Galaxy ITT, but had since lost ground as technology became a dominant force in the global economy.
‎The NITDA boss emphasised that technology had become central to economic growth, pointing out that most of the world’s leading companies are technology-based businesses.
‎He therefore urged the management of Galaxy ITT to develop a clear strategic direction for the company’s repositioning, leveraging its experience and understanding of the country’s information technology landscape to become a major driver of digital transformation in Jigawa State.
‎He however, stressed that Galaxy ITT could not achieve the desired transformation alone, noting the need for appropriate legal, policy and institutional frameworks to support its operations.
‎And then called for closer collaboration between Galaxy ITT and the Jigawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency, particularly in the areas of policy implementation and digital economy development.
‎The NITDA DG also used the occasion to explain the evolution of the agency and its role in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
‎He said NITDA was established in 2001 to promote the adoption and use of information and communication technology in Nigeria, at a time when fewer than 500,000 Nigerians had access to computers and ICT contributed less than 0.5 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
‎According to him, the agency’s mandate has evolved from simply promoting technology adoption to developing policies, regulations and legal instruments capable of positioning technology as a key enabler of economic activities.
‎He explained that the adoption of Nigeria’s digital economy policy in 2019 marked a major shift in the country’s approach to technology, with the sector increasingly regarded as a horizontal enabler of virtually every aspect of the economy rather than a standalone sector.
‎He said NITDA subsequently repositioned itself, developed a strategic roadmap and action plan, and began focusing its regulatory and policy interventions on creating markets, generating employment and promoting inclusive economic growth through technology.
‎Inuwa aid the agency’s vision was to build a digitally empowered Nigeria capable of achieving inclusive economic growth through technological innovation.
‎The retreat was also attended by Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, former Governor of Jigawa State and the pioneer of the state’s ICT development drive. Turaki established Galaxy ITT, which later metamorphosed into Galaxy Backbone.
‎Turaki commended NITDA under Abdullahi’s leadership for its efforts towards advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
‎The retreat ultimately highlighted the importance of strategic planning, policy continuity, institutional collaboration and sustained investment in technology in repositioning Galaxy ITT and strengthening Jigawa State’s capacity to participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s emerging digital economy.