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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunications (Galaxy ITT) to develop a clear strategic direction that will enable the company to play a stronger role in Jigawa State’s digital transformation and economic development.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said Galaxy ITT’s experience and history in Nigeria’s technology sector positioned it to contribute meaningfully to the development of a sustainable digital economy in Jigawa.
Inuwa made the remarks at the Galaxy ITT Repositioning Retreat in Abuja, where he also called on Jigawa State to leverage its youthful population, land and other resources to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on federal allocations.
He said the state needed to reassess its development model and establish clear priorities for the next two to three years, supported by practical strategies, measurable targets and effective implementation.
“Strategic planning is very important,” Inuwa said, stressing that sustainable development requires institutions and governments to define clear objectives and remain focused on achieving them.
Galaxy ITT’s role in Jigawa’s digital economy
Galaxy ITT was established during the administration of Ibrahim Turaki, a former governor of Jigawa State, as part of an early effort to use information and communications technology as a tool for economic development. The company subsequently evolved into Galaxy Backbone.
According to Inuwa, the decision to establish Galaxy ITT demonstrated foresight at a time when technology had yet to become widely recognised as a major driver of economic growth.
However, he noted that a lack of continuity across successive administrations limited the state’s ability to fully build on the foundation that had been established.
Jigawa was among the early states to explore technology-led development, but the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure, data and emerging technologies has created new opportunities that require renewed investment and strategic planning.
For Galaxy ITT, Inuwa said the immediate priority should be to establish a sustainable corporate strategy and leverage its understanding of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem to support the state’s digital transformation agenda.
He cautioned that corporate strategy alone would not be enough, noting that effective digital transformation also requires appropriate legislation, supportive policies and institutions capable of creating an enabling environment for technology businesses to develop and scale.
The NITDA director-general called for closer collaboration between Galaxy ITT and the Jigawa State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency, particularly in implementing digital policies and developing the state’s technology ecosystem.
From ICT promotion to digital economy regulation
Inuwa also used the retreat to highlight the evolution of NITDA’s mandate since its establishment in 2001.
He recalled that the agency was initially created to promote the adoption and use of information and communications technology in Nigeria. At the time, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians had access to computers, while ICT contributed less than 0.5 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product.
NITDA’s mandate has since expanded beyond technology promotion to include the development of policies, regulations and legal frameworks designed to position technology as an enabler of economic activity.
The adoption of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) in 2019 further reinforced this shift, with digital technology increasingly viewed as a foundation for productivity, employment, innovation and economic growth rather than as an isolated sector.
Inuwa said NITDA subsequently developed a strategic roadmap and action plan focused on using regulation and policy to create markets, generate employment and expand participation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The broader objective, he said, is to build a digitally empowered Nigeria capable of achieving inclusive economic growth through technology and innovation.
Turning early investments into sustainable growth
The discussions around Galaxy ITT highlight a broader challenge for Jigawa and other states seeking to use technology as a tool for economic diversification.
While establishing digital institutions and infrastructure can provide an important foundation, converting those investments into long-term economic value requires institutional continuity, strategic planning, skilled talent, supportive regulation and sustained investment.
For Jigawa, leveraging its youthful population and other economic resources alongside digital infrastructure could provide opportunities to develop new businesses, attract technology investment and expand employment beyond traditional sectors.
Turaki, who attended the retreat, commended NITDA for its efforts to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
The repositioning of Galaxy ITT therefore presents an opportunity to revisit Jigawa’s early investment in technology and align it with the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
For the state, the challenge will be to transform that legacy into a sustainable competitive advantage through clear policy direction, stronger institutions and consistent investment in digital infrastructure and innovation.
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