In a landmark move to harmonize Nigeria’s tech and broadcasting landscapes, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating digital transformation and modernizing media regulation.
The collaboration was formalized during a high-level meeting, when the Director General of NBC, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, paid a courtesy visit to his counterpart at NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The talks centered on the urgent need for inter-agency synergy as technology and media increasingly converge.
A Unified Vision for a Digital Future
Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of NITDA, emphasized that digital transformation is an ongoing journey rather than a destination. He noted that for Nigeria to thrive in the global digital economy, public institutions must move away from rigid, traditional civil service mindsets toward "high-velocity, smart public sector" models.
"Digital transformation and regulation are inseparable in a fast-evolving digital ecosystem," Inuwa stated. "More than 70 to 80 percent of our staff came from the mainstream public service, and we understood the need to change the narrative. We focused on resetting mindsets and building a culture that supports innovation and accountability."
Inuwa revealed that NITDA has successfully streamlined over 396 internal processes, significantly reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and enabling automation. He further disclosed that every staff member at NITDA has undergone mandatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, reinforcing the agency’s stance that AI is a tool for productivity rather than a replacement for human talent.
The Three Pillars of Reform
The NITDA boss outlined a transformation strategy anchored on three core pillars:
People: Cultivating psychological safety and a culture of continuous learning.
Processes: Optimizing internal workflows to ensure speed and trust-based delegation.
Technology: Deploying digital tools, including AI and blockchain, specifically to solve business problems and drive value.
As a gesture of collaboration, NITDA offered to share its Digital Transformation Playbook with NBC, a comprehensive guide documenting the lessons learned from NITDA's own internal reforms.
Addressing the Convergence of Media and Tech
The Director General of NBC, Charles Ebuebu, described the partnership as "long overdue," citing the rapid blurring of lines between traditional broadcasting and digital technology. He stressed that formalizing this relationship is critical for tackling emerging issues in data governance, content distribution, and media regulation.
"A strategic partnership between NBC and NITDA is essential to effectively regulate the evolving media ecosystem while safeguarding Nigeria’s cultural and national interests," Ebuebu remarked.
The collaboration is expected to provide NBC with technical support to modernize its regulatory frameworks and enroll its staff in digital literacy programs conducted alongside global partners like Cisco.
Impact on the Digital Economy
This alliance aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes digital inclusion and economic diversification. By merging NITDA’s technical expertise with NBC’s regulatory oversight, the agencies aim to:
Promote the growth of local media content.
Enhance knowledge transfer between the tech and broadcasting sectors.
Ensure a secure and innovative environment for digital citizens.
As Nigeria continues to advance toward its goal of 95% digital literacy by 2030, the synergy between these two giants marks a significant shift from siloed governance to a collaborative, forward-thinking regulatory environment.
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