In a hall filled with voices dedicated to Nigeria’s future, one message rang clear: progress is a shared responsibility.
At the inaugural Civil Society Summit on Civil Democracy and National Development, held at the Rotunda Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), issued a heartfelt call for partnership not just between organisations, but between vision and action.
“This is not a time to trade blame. It’s a time to build together,” Inuwa said, setting the tone for the day’s conversation around national priorities.
The Call to Co-Create, Not Just Critique
Inuwa, reflecting on Nigeria’s current economic and social challenges, challenged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to move beyond critique and step into the role of co-creators in shaping national policy. He emphasized that the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a blueprint that demanded collective commitment.
“There are things the government can do that civil society cannot. And there are things civil society can do that the government cannot. But together just together we can do much greater things,” he told the audience.
He outlined the eight priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda: economic reform, national security, agricultural transformation, natural resource development, infrastructure expansion, social sector improvement, industrial diversification, and good governance.
“If we agree on the vision, then we must move forward together regardless of who is in power. The vision must outlast political terms. That’s how nations grow.”
Technology as a Catalyst, Not a Distraction
But vision alone isn’t enough. For Inuwa, the real enabler is technology. From digital tools that connect citizens to policymakers, to AI-driven solutions in agriculture and education, he believes Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine of digital opportunity.
He shared that NITDA is currently working with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to deploy an AI-powered citizen engagement platform, a project aimed at helping young Nigerians co-design the policies that shape their future.
“Nigeria doesn’t have a shortage of ideas. What we lack are the tools and more importantly, the will to execute them at scale and on time,” he noted.
Bridging the Trust Gap, One Conversation at a Time
For Inuwa, one of the nation’s most pressing problems isn’t policy, it’s trust. The gap between government and the governed, he argued, stems from a lack of meaningful engagement.
“If we build trust, we win today’s battle. With trust, we can make Nigeria great. But trust doesn’t come from speeches, it comes from shared action.”
He urged CSOs and government leaders alike to build consensus, not competition, and to see civic engagement as the cornerstone of sustainable development.
A Vision Bigger than Any One Person
As the summit drew to a close, Inuwa’s message lingered in the room: No single institution or administration can transform Nigeria alone. But with a unified front, of government, civil society, and empowered citizens, the country can turn its vision into a living reality.
The summit served as more than just a meeting of minds; it was a renewed commitment to collaboration, one that places people, purpose, and progress at the centre of Nigeria’s democratic journey.
