Nigeria, US strengthen collaboration on data governance

By Samuel Olomu, Nigeria correspondent
Johannesburg, 15 Jan 2026
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the NITDA, speaking at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building workshop.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the NITDA, speaking at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building workshop.

Nigeria is consolidating its digital cooperation with the US, as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) intensifies efforts to build a credible, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystem based on robust data governance.

KashifuInuwa Abdullahi, director general of the NITDA, made the announcement on Tuesday while speaking at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building workshop organised by the US.

According to Inuwa, the broadened alliance would concentrate on critical technical areas such as data privacy, artificial intelligence, capacity building, and cybersecurity.

He said building trust across the digital ecosystem remains critical to driving Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

“Trust is the foundation of any digital ecosystem. As AI thrives on data, data requires privacy, and privacy depends on strong security. These elements must be addressed together to enable innovation and sustainable growth,” Inuwa said.

He stated that further engagements are ongoing including discussions with U.S. cybersecurity companies to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s technical capacity.

Inuwa added that NITDA also plans to expand Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Conference into an international platform in 2026, following participation by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria last year.

He said the move is designed to boost resilience, reduce digital and financial risks, and support Nigeria’s long-term digital self-determination.

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