ITU reaffirms commitment to Nigeria’s digital development
By SUMAYYAH ADEFAKA
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
This followed a courtesy visit by the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (ITU-BDT), Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja. He was accompanied by the ITU Regional Director for Africa, Dr Emmanuel Manasseh.
The delegation was received on behalf of NITDA’s Director-General by the Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Dr Warowei Dimie, alongside other senior officials of the agency.
Speaking during the visit, Dimie reiterated NITDA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the ITU, describing the organisation’s global expertise as critical to transferring tested solutions and best practices to Nigeria’s local digital ecosystem.
He said discussions focused heavily on digital skills development and capacity building, as Nigeria works towards achieving 70 per cent digital literacy nationwide by next year, noting that significant progress has already been made through partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders.
In his remarks, Zavazava outlined ITU-BDT’s mandate to bridge the digital divide, promote inclusive ICT development, strengthen regulatory frameworks and support member states in building resilient digital infrastructure.
He noted that these priorities align strongly with Nigeria’s digital transformation goals, adding that the ITU operates across its 194 member states through regional and area offices, including those in Dakar, Senegal, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
NITDA said the visit underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between international development institutions and national agencies, reaffirming the shared commitment of both organisations to leveraging ICTs for sustainable development, innovation and inclusive socio-economic growth in Nigeria.
