The call for deepened collaboration among IT stakeholders was the central theme of the Principal IT Stakeholders Forum 2025 held in Abuja.

Speaking at the forum, Kashifu Inuwa, the director-general of NITDA, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships underscored that building a digitally powered Nigeria is a task that cannot be achieved in isolation.

He stressed that partnerships are vital to realising a digitally empowered nation, asserting, “Collaboration is the key.”

Inuwa highlighted the pillars of the agency’s renewed strategic vision, the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) 2024-2027.

This roadmap focuses on key areas such as digital literacy and talent cultivation, building a robust technology research ecosystem, and strengthening cybersecurity and digital trust.

The DG specifically called on all stakeholders to join NITDA’s ongoing digital literacy initiatives to ensure that the growth in the digital economy is inclusive.

The forum, organised by NITDA in partnership with the NCS, Abuja Chapter, served as a platform for IT professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on strategies for fostering a coherent and unified technology ecosystem.

John Odumesi, chairman of the NCS Abuja Chapter, explained that the event was designed for stakeholders to “co-create and discuss constructively for a better Nigeria,” noting that synergy is essential for accelerating innovation and national development.

In her keynote address, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, a fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society and former Federal Permanent Secretary, lauded NITDA for the timely and innovative initiative. Speaking on the theme, “Aligning Perspectives, Building Synergies: Forging a Unified IT Ecosystem for National Growth,” she offered a historical perspective on Nigeria’s IT journey.

Mrs. Odusote reinforced the theme by stressing the importance of cooperation over competition, saying, “Progress in the IT space cannot be achieved in silos.” We must complement one another rather than compete if we are to realise our national aspirations.”

The event concluded with a strong consensus, urging stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to deepen their collaborative efforts and align strategies to advance Nigeria’s digital economy goals.

The Foundation, speaking on the occasion of Children’s Day 2022, observes that the exponential growth of technology has created tremendous opportunities for children and young people globally; as it enables them to learn, share and communicate expressing themselves freely without inhibition or borders.

According to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) statistics, as at March 2022, Nigeria has 145.9 million Internet users out of a population of 211.4 million.

With more subscribers having access to the Internet every day, Ndukwe Kalu Foundation (NKF) emphasized that it has become pertinent and necessary to address the technology in the lives of young Internet users, especially as groups actively involved in the SDGs 16.2 which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, violence and torture against children by 2030.

Highlighting these points, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, the Chairperson, Ndukwe Kalu Foundation, called for stakeholders to combine efforts to facilitate continuous awareness and protection campaigns to protect children online.

She said that policies and other regulatory instruments should be accorded same level of priority to both the physical and online safety of children.

Mrs Odusote hinted that the Board of the Ndukwe Kalu Foundation has approved the Child Online Safety, Protection and Report Abuse (COSPRA) Mandate and “has identified among others collaborative ideas, signs and symptoms of online abuse through the use of Internet and how best to deal with such situations; providing needed promotional awareness, guidance and support to children and affected young victims”.

“As part of achieving the COSPRA mandate, the Foundation is planning three key events; first, Annual Online Child Safety and Protection Summit in collaboration with multi- stakeholder groups facilitating the exchange & circulation of information and preventive tools for best practices;

“Secondly , we are going to conduct ‘Train the Trainers’ Training Programme at the six (6) GeoPolitical Zones in Nigeria to increase safe practice awareness in schools; and thirdly Promote open discussion, debates, events, programs etc., during conversations with key multi-stakeholders and partners globally”.

The Chairperson, listed COSPRA’s mandate as “To ensure a safer and more secure online environment for children and youth; to participate in active campaigns between all stakeholders in knowledge and experience sharing; to encourage procedures for the improvement of legal regulations as well as self- regulation instruments towards Child Safety online; amongst others.

She added that the Foundation is positioned to promote safe activities on the Internet and how issues affecting the lives of its young users and the digital environment are protected.