The rhythm of Nigeria’s digital journey took centre stage in Kano recently as technology leaders, innovators, and scholars converged for the 19th International Conference of the Nigerian Computer Society (CONNOVATE 2025).
The theme, “Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for a Connected World,” was not just a slogan, it became a call to action.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Kashifu Inuwa, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Engr. Salisu Kaka painted a vivid picture of the country’s next frontier.
The DG’s message was clear: Nigeria’s digital transformation must stand on three pillars, intelligence, security, and sustainability.
“In Nigeria, trust is the ultimate currency in our high-stakes digital environment, where scams and cybercrime are prevalent. Security builds and protects this trust,” Inuwa said, warning that “innovation without security is unsustainable, like a high-performance race car without brakes.”
The Case for Convergence
Inuwa highlighted how the world’s most digitally advanced societies weave these elements together. Citing Estonia’s X-Road platform, which powers 99% of government services online, he urged Nigeria to embrace a similar convergence of intelligence and security to unlock opportunities.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics, he argued, are no longer futuristic buzzwords, they are practical tools for solving Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
From AI-powered wealth management to ML-driven remote diagnostics in healthcare, he challenged startups to move beyond digitising old systems to creating new value.
Building Blocks Already in Motion
The NITDA boss reassured the audience that Nigeria is not starting from scratch. He spotlighted initiatives under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), including:
- The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR)
- The Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT)
- The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023
- The national digital identity programme and interoperable payments infrastructure
- Human capital programmes such as 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) and Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL)
These, he said, are foundations upon which a secure, intelligent, and sustainable digital economy can thrive.
A Global Conversation
The message from the global stage resonated as well. Antony Wong, President of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), stressed the importance of protecting indigenous knowledge in the age of AI. With Nigeria’s cultural heritage, from medicine to ecology, being digitised, Wong commended Nigeria’s role in the recent WIPO treaty protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge, urging clearer legal frameworks on data ownership.
NCS President Sets the Tone
Welcoming participants, Dr. Muhammad Sirajo, NCS President, described the conference as an interdisciplinary platform where IT professionals, researchers, and entrepreneurs can tackle challenges facing sectors such as finance, energy, agriculture, education, and national planning.
“This conference will provide a stage to discuss recent innovations, trends, and solutions for improving technological systems,” Sirajo said.
A Week of Innovation and Recognition
Beyond speeches, CONNOVATE 2025 was designed as a week-long festival of ideas and innovation.
The programme features plenary sessions, a doctoral consortium, youth and entrepreneurship forums, Fellows Forum, IT quiz competitions, and an induction ceremony for new members.
It will climax with the election of new national executives, followed by a dinner and awards night honouring individuals and organisations that have shaped Nigeria’s ICT landscape.
As Nigeria seeks to establish itself as Africa’s digital powerhouse, the tone from Kano is unmistakable: the future must be intelligent, secure, and sustainable, or it will not be at all.
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