At the 2nd Moonshot Annual Tech Conference in Lagos, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), took part in a pivotal panel discussion on building digital economies in Africa. The session, titled “Building Digital Economies for the World: How African Countries Are Shaping Their Tech Economies to Compete Across the Continent and Globally,” featured esteemed experts such as Dr. Augustina Odame, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Technology; David Manley, Chief Advisor on Technology for Sierra Leone; and Marieme Kane, Director of Innovation at Mauritania’s Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Abdullahi highlighted the need for government collaboration with local ecosystems in order to collect data and accurately address the specific needs of the growing tech environment. He emphasized that only through working closely with industry stakeholders can effective regulations be developed to spur innovation and protect the tech space.
A key point raised by Abdullahi was the importance of developing and enhancing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). He noted that a robust DPI framework is essential to fully harness the potential of Africa’s digital economy, enabling cross-border data exchange and fostering collaboration within the continent and on the global stage. This push for digital integration is crucial as African nations continue to scale their technological capabilities in an increasingly interconnected world.
In his address, Abdullahi reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for tech-driven solutions that not only foster economic growth but also position Africa as a formidable player in the global digital economy. The NITDA chief also called for continued investment in digital infrastructure to enhance cross-border collaboration and data sovereignty, key elements for driving Africa’s digital transformation.
The discussion emphasized the collective responsibility of African governments and tech ecosystems to work in tandem, ensuring policies and regulations are reflective of the needs of the digital landscape. Abdullahi’s insights reinforced NITDA’s leadership role in shaping Nigeria’s digital economy, which continues to serve as a model for other African nations aiming to compete on a global scale..
