The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with Lagos Business School (LBS) to review its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2023–2027, known as STRAP 2.0, in a move aimed at strengthening accountability, improving institutional performance and shaping Nigeria’s next phase of digital transformation.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed the partnership during the second edition of the STRAP 2.0 Stakeholders Engagement Workshop in Abuja. The engagement brought together stakeholders to examine the agency’s progress, assess the impact of its programmes and contribute ideas towards the development of a new strategic direction.
Rather than rely solely on an internal assessment, NITDA wants an independent review that considers the perspectives of people and organisations within Nigeria’s technology ecosystem. Consequently, the collaboration with Lagos Business School is expected to help the agency examine its mandate, evaluate its performance and identify the capabilities required to deliver its future objectives.
The review also comes as NITDA prepares to develop another strategic plan in 2027. Before setting new targets, the agency wants to establish how much of its existing commitments it has delivered and whether those interventions have produced meaningful results.
Why NITDA Wants an Independent Review
Explaining the decision to involve Lagos Business School, Inuwa said an organisation should not be the sole judge of its own performance, particularly when it has established targets against which its achievements must be measured.
He recalled that NITDA conducted an internal assessment of its first strategic roadmap. During that exercise, the agency reported that it had achieved more than 80 per cent of its 70 initiatives. However, he argued that an external assessment would provide a more balanced picture of its progress.
According to the Director-General, stakeholders should have the opportunity to examine the agency’s work, assess its performance and identify areas where improvements are necessary.
This approach places greater emphasis on transparency and institutional accountability. While government agencies often measure performance through completed projects, training sessions and other activities, those figures do not always explain whether citizens and businesses have experienced meaningful improvements.
Therefore, the STRAP 2.0 review is expected to look beyond reported activities and consider the actual outcomes of NITDA’s interventions.
Furthermore, stakeholder participation could help the agency identify emerging challenges that may not be immediately visible through internal reports. Technology businesses, academic institutions, public-sector organisations and other participants can provide perspectives on how policies and programmes affect different parts of the digital ecosystem.
Lagos Business School to Support Research and Capacity Development
The partnership extends beyond evaluating the agency’s achievements. It also involves research and the identification of institutional capabilities that can strengthen NITDA’s ability to deliver its mandate.
Inuwa explained that setting targets is only one part of strategic planning. Agencies must also identify the human resources, technical expertise and organisational capacity required to achieve those targets.
This explains why NITDA engaged Lagos Business School to examine its mandate and strategy and conduct research that could support its institutional development.
The Director-General also highlighted the importance of developing training materials and practical examples that reflect Nigeria’s realities. He noted that training programmes sometimes rely on case studies from Western countries, which may not adequately reflect the operating environment of Nigerian institutions and businesses.
By developing locally relevant use cases, the partnership can help connect professional training with the challenges facing Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.
For instance, digital transformation in Nigeria involves more than adopting new software or introducing online services. It also requires reliable infrastructure, appropriate policies, skilled personnel, effective cybersecurity practices and the capacity of organisations to adapt to technological change.
Consequently, research grounded in local experiences could help NITDA strengthen its workforce and improve how it designs and implements future interventions.
2.8 Million Nigerians Certified in Digital Skills
Presenting an overview of STRAP 2.0, Dr Raymond Onuoha of Lagos Business School highlighted several achievements attributed to the roadmap over the past three years.
He disclosed that approximately 2.8 million Nigerians had received digital skills training and certification through initiatives connected to the agency’s digital development agenda.
This figure reflects the importance of digital literacy and talent development as Nigeria expands its technology-driven economy. As businesses, public institutions and individuals increasingly depend on digital tools, the demand for people with relevant technical and practical skills continues to grow.
However, the next stage of assessment will need to establish how effectively these training interventions have translated into employment opportunities, business development, improved productivity and wider participation in the digital economy.
In addition to skills development, Onuoha reported that more than 700 startups had received support through initiatives covering incubation, acceleration and market access.
These programmes are intended to help emerging technology businesses strengthen their operations, develop products and connect with opportunities that can support their growth.
He also disclosed that approximately $51.2 million had been mobilised for technology startups, alongside an additional $100 million provided within the ecosystem.
The figures highlight the role of financing and business support in building a sustainable technology sector. Nevertheless, the review will provide an opportunity to examine how these resources have contributed to startup growth, innovation and the wider economy.
NITDA Reports Progress in Regulatory Development and Public IT Oversight
Beyond digital skills and startup support, the STRAP 2.0 overview highlighted progress in regulatory development and government technology investments.
Onuoha said approximately 17 regulatory standards and frameworks had been developed under the roadmap. He also referenced four national cloud investment and policy documents among the latest developments.
These frameworks are important because Nigeria’s digital economy requires clear standards and policies to guide the adoption, management and use of technology.
As public institutions and private organisations increasingly depend on digital infrastructure, appropriate regulatory frameworks can support consistency, accountability, security and responsible investment.
On public-sector technology spending, Onuoha disclosed that NITDA had reviewed information technology projects valued at approximately ₦2.77 trillion through its IT Project Clearance initiative.
The initiative provides an oversight mechanism for government technology projects, helping to assess proposals and encourage alignment with established standards and requirements.
This area will remain important as government institutions allocate resources to digital infrastructure, software, platforms and technology-related services. Effective oversight can help reduce duplication, improve coordination and encourage more efficient use of public funds.
However, the review must also consider whether the clearance process has improved the quality and effectiveness of government technology investments.
Cybersecurity Remains a Major Priority
Cybersecurity also featured among the achievements highlighted during the workshop.
According to Onuoha, nearly 80,000 participants had received cybersecurity training through initiatives associated with the roadmap.
The figure underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity skills as Nigeria expands digital services and increases its dependence on connected systems.
Individuals, businesses and government institutions face risks ranging from online fraud and identity theft to data breaches, ransomware and other forms of cybercrime. As a result, building cybersecurity awareness and technical expertise remains essential to protecting digital infrastructure and public trust.
Nevertheless, training numbers alone cannot provide a complete picture of national cybersecurity readiness. The review will need to examine how these interventions have strengthened institutional preparedness, improved security practices and equipped participants to respond to emerging threats.
In addition, the next strategic plan will need to account for new developments in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other technologies that are changing the nature of cybersecurity risks.
From Activities to Measurable Outcomes
One of the central issues emerging from the review is the need to move beyond measuring activities and focus more directly on outcomes.
Although the figures presented by Lagos Business School indicate progress across several areas, the assessment must establish what those achievements mean for Nigerians.
For example, the certification of 2.8 million people in digital skills is an important performance indicator. However, questions remain about how many participants have secured employment, started businesses, improved their productivity or gained access to new economic opportunities.
Similarly, supporting more than 700 startups provides an indication of the scale of NITDA’s interventions. Yet, the next assessment should consider how many businesses remain operational, how much they have grown and whether the support has improved their ability to compete.
The same principle applies to regulatory development, cybersecurity training and public-sector IT project oversight.
Onuoha emphasised the importance of using stakeholder feedback to move performance assessment from activities to outcomes. He also indicated that the review would compare Nigeria’s performance with international benchmarks.
Such comparisons could help identify areas where the country has made progress, as well as gaps that require additional attention.
Stakeholder Feedback to Shape the Next Strategic Plan
The engagement is also intended to give stakeholders an opportunity to explain what they expect from NITDA and what should receive greater attention in its next strategic roadmap.
This is particularly important because Nigeria’s technology ecosystem continues to evolve. New business models, emerging technologies, changing cybersecurity threats and demands for improved digital services require policies that can respond to current realities.
By consulting stakeholders, NITDA can identify priorities that reflect the needs of technology companies, innovators, academic institutions, government organisations and citizens.
Furthermore, the collaboration with Lagos Business School offers an opportunity to connect institutional research with practical policy development. The findings from the review can help the agency determine which existing programmes should continue, which require adjustments and where new interventions may be necessary.
The process will also test whether NITDA’s existing priorities remain relevant as the country prepares for another phase of digital transformation.
Conclusion
NITDA’s partnership with Lagos Business School on the review of STRAP 2.0 represents an effort to strengthen independent performance assessment and improve the agency’s approach to strategic planning.
With reported achievements covering digital skills certification, startup support, technology financing, regulatory development, public-sector IT oversight and cybersecurity training, the review provides an opportunity to examine the impact of these interventions more closely.
More importantly, the exercise could help ensure that the agency’s next strategic plan responds to the actual needs of Nigeria’s digital economy.
As NITDA prepares to develop a new roadmap in 2027, the quality of the review will depend on credible evidence, constructive stakeholder participation and a clear assessment of measurable outcomes.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s digital transformation will require more than ambitious targets and impressive performance figures. It will depend on how effectively policies, investments, skills and innovation translate into better opportunities for citizens, stronger businesses and more efficient public institutions.
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