Director-general of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, met with Dr Madan Mohan Tripathi, director-general of India’s National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, to discuss collaboration efforts.

Following the recent G20 Summit, Nigeria and India have revealed a pact to boost innovation and the digital economy.

Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said yesterday that its collaboration with India will help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu achieve his goal of creating one million digital jobs for Nigerians, by 2025.

According to the agency, director-general of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, met with Dr Madan Mohan Tripathi, director-general of India’s National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), to discuss collaboration efforts.

In a news release, NITDA said: “The meeting, which was part of the Federal Government‘s participation at the G20 Summit in India, was aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the Indian digital economy and exploring avenues for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The discussions covered topics ranging from digital skills development to cybersecurity and innovation.”

Inuwa was positive about the alliance’s chances of success, emphasising the necessity of using India's considerable knowledge in digital technology to strengthen Nigeria's digital economy.

“Leaders from both Nigeria and India emphasised that this partnership is not only about bilateral cooperation, but also about contributing to the broader global digital ecosystem. They believed that by joining forces, they can accelerate their respective digital transformations while also playing a more influential role in shaping the global tech space,” NITDA said.

In a related meeting, the Nigerian delegation had a working visit to India’s National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM).

Shivendra Singh, VP, Global Trade Development, NASSCOM, welcomed the Nigerians and led discussions about potential areas of partnership in the ICT industry.

Following the sessions, the two countries are set to develop an action plan for collaboration, notably in the areas of skills development, technology transfer, and business partnerships.

"The goal is to strengthen bilateral relations and promote long-term digital economy development," the agency said.