The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has charged African countries to transition from being mere consumers of technology to becoming creators and exporters of digital solutions.
The Director-General, who gave the charge in his keynote address at the African Creators Conference 2025 held in Abuja, reiterated his vision for Africa’s digital transformation, emphasising the continent’s vast potential driven by its youthful population, creativity, and digital fluency
Speaking on the theme “The Future of Africa in the Global Digital Economy”, the NITDA boss, who was represented at the forum by the agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, maintained that Nigerian innovators and creators should take their rightful place as global leaders and solution providers.”
Inuwa maintained that with over 1.4 billion people, more than 60% of whom are under the age of 25—Africa stood at a critical juncture in the global digital landscape , adding that the continent’s young population is uniquely positioned to shape the future of technology and innovation.
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He expatiated: “Our young people, with their creativity, energy, and fluency in digital tools, are poised to shape Africa’s future in technology and innovation.
“Over 126 million internet users, 205 million mobile subscriptions, and transformative programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative, the Nigeria Startup Act, and NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0. These efforts are aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a producer and exporter of digital solutions”, Inuwa added.
This is even as he underscored the importance of regional collaboration through frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and advocated the need for harmonised policies and strategic infrastructure investments to unlock trillions of dollars in potential value across Africa’s digital economy.
In his closing remarks, the Director-General urged stakeholders to rise to the challenge of building a digitally empowered Africa, stressing that “the choices we make today will determine whether Africa remains on the margins or takes its rightful place at the centre of global digital transformation.”
The African Creators Conference 2025 convened over 3,000 creators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the continent.
