By Peter Omopo
Nigeria is set to benefit from a £15 million investment in information and communications technology (ICT), digital infrastructure and broadband development under a programme supported by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
An ITU delegation disclosed this during a visit to Abuja at the weekend, noting that Nigeria is one of 11 sub-Saharan African countries selected for the initiative. The delegation also revealed that Nigeria is among 136 countries participating in a global cybersecurity drill organised by the ITU in partnership with the United Arab Emirates.
The disclosure was made during a meeting with the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa. The ITU team, led by the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, and the ITU Regional Director for Africa, Emmanuel Manasseh, commended Nigeria’s progress in digitalisation and digital inclusion.
Zavazava explained that the investment across sub-Saharan Africa would focus on digital skills development, infrastructure mapping and modelling, aimed at accelerating the growth of the region’s digital economy. He said the ITU’s mandate includes bridging the digital divide, promoting inclusive ICT development, strengthening regulatory frameworks and supporting resilient digital infrastructure across its 194 member states.
According to him, these objectives align with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, particularly in areas such as digital skills, broadband infrastructure mapping and cybersecurity initiatives designed to strengthen the country’s digital economy.
The ITU delegation was received on behalf of the NITDA Director-General by the agency’s Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Warowei Dimie, alongside other senior officials.
Dimie reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the ITU, describing the organisation’s global experience as critical for transferring tested solutions and best practices to Nigeria. He said digital skills and capacity building remain central to Nigeria’s strategy, as the country works towards achieving 70 per cent nationwide digital literacy by next year.
He also highlighted the adoption of the National Digital Literacy Framework as a key milestone in providing a structured and inclusive approach to skills development, while acknowledging ongoing connectivity gaps in rural and underserved communities.
Participants at the meeting stressed the need for targeted grassroots digital training and the deployment of National Youth Service Corps members as digital literacy ambassadors to expand access and inclusion across the country.
