Nigeria’s young graduates must see themselves as builders of the nation’s digital economy, not just job seekers, says Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA’s director general.
Speaking to corps members and interns serving at the agency, he urged them to channel their energy and ideas into developing technology-driven startups capable of solving local and global challenges.
Inuwa made the call at the grand finale of the NITDA Innovation Challenge 1.0, held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The event featured presentations by Corp members and Interns who showcased technology-driven projects developed under NITDA’s internal innovation programme aimed at solving real-life problems and improving service delivery.
Sharing his personal journey, the DG recounted how his career in technology began during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year over two decades ago.
“I had an opportunity to build a website for the place I served, and that opened doors for me,” he said. “Before I finished my service, a company offered me a contract worth ₦1.5 million to develop another website. Since then, I have remained committed to creating value through technology.”
He revealed that NITDA currently hosts over 550 Corp members, many of whom face employment challenges after their service year. To address this, he said the agency is providing platforms that enable them to acquire digital skills, refine their ideas, and build startups before completing their service year.
“We know it’s not easy to get jobs after NYSC,” he noted. “So we are creating opportunities for you to build your own startups while you are here. You don’t have to wait until after your service year — you can start testing your ideas right now.”
The DG commended the participants for their innovative ideas ranging from smart performance tracking systems to digital branding tools, knowledge management platforms, job placement systems, and certificate verification solutions.
“These are solutions we truly need,” he said, encouraging them to continue exploring new possibilities and building solutions that will define Nigeria’s digital future.
In his remarks, Dr. Ayodeji Eniola, Director in the DG’s Office, described the Innovation Challenge as more than a competition, calling it a “movement” that will redefine innovation within NITDA and across the public sector.
“What we are witnessing today is not just a programme but a movement,” he said. “In the years to come, the world will look back at this moment and celebrate it because the innovations developed here will not only transform NITDA but the entire public service.”
He explained that the initiative was inspired by the DG’s vision to institutionalise innovation through a structured approach, which led to the creation of the NITDA Innovation Framework (NIF), a blueprint for harnessing creativity and improving public sector efficiency.
“Innovation is not about competition; it’s about collaboration,” Eniola added. “Everyone who took part in this challenge has contributed to building the foundation of something much bigger. Together, we are shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital economy.”
Under the framework, staff, Corp members, and Interns were encouraged to identify and propose solutions to real challenges within NITDA’s operations and national digital transformation agenda.
The maiden edition of the Challenge attracted 35 submissions from various departments. After screening, 13 priority challenges were selected, leading to the formation of 24 teams that participated in workshops, mentorship sessions, and pitching events. Out of these, 23 teams successfully completed their projects, addressing 10 key internal issues within the agency.
Ten finalist teams presented their innovations before the NITDA Innovation Council, with six emerging as winners.
The NITDA Innovation Challenge is part of the agency’s broader strategy to foster creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving within the public sector, in alignment with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
Through initiatives like this, NITDA aims to position itself as a model for innovation-driven governance and a launchpad for young Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of cash awards to the top six winning teams as follows: Team X (COPA) – 1st Place; Team Sentinel (Smart ID) – 2nd Place; Smart Track Innovators – 3rd Place; Team Trivergent – 4th Place; Team TechLogs (SafeCheck) – 5th Place; Team Big Tech (Digital Brainbox) and Team SRAPture – tied for 6th Place.
