Google Partnership Will Propel Nigeria’s Digital Economy, Says NITDA DG
The federal government has announced that its partnership with Google is poised to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation, positioning the country as a global technology hub.
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Inuwa Kashifu, disclosed this during a television interview monitored in Lagos on Thursday.
Kashifu explained that the collaboration, which was formalized during a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Paris, focuses on five key areas: infrastructure development, workforce upskilling, artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, cloud adoption, and an investment framework.
These efforts, he noted, will create a robust digital ecosystem capable of driving Nigeria’s economic growth.
A major aspect of the partnership is the enhancement of digital infrastructure, including the establishment of data centers that will serve both the public and private sectors.
Kashifu highlighted the importance of securing sensitive data locally, stating that globally, data centers do not rely on grid electricity but instead adopt off-grid and green energy solutions to align with carbon credit initiatives.
The NITDA boss also stressed the need to equip Nigerians with relevant digital skills, ensuring that the workforce is prepared to leverage the opportunities created by the partnership. He emphasized that embedding digital literacy into the national education system—from primary to tertiary levels—will be a priority.
The partnership with Google is also expected to attract foreign investments into Nigeria’s tech sector. AI innovation will be a critical component, fostering the development of localized solutions and driving advancements in machine learning and automation.
Kashifu clarified that a separate initiative with Awari Technologies is not part of the agreement with Google. Instead, it operates under a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) aimed at developing a large language model to support indigenous languages and cultural preservation.
Google Partnership Will Propel Nigeria’s Digital Economy, Says NITDA DG is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
