By 
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Agence des Systèmes d’Information et du Numérique (ASIN) of the Republic of Benin have strengthened bilateral cooperation aimed at accelerating digital transformation, advancing digital public infrastructure, and promoting innovation-driven governance across the region.
The renewed commitment was reinforced during a courtesy visit by a Beninese delegation to NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions explored opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of stronger digital ecosystems in West Africa.
Regional Collaboration Key to Digital Growth
Speaking during the engagement, Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, emphasised the importance of regional partnerships in driving Africa’s digital economy.
According to him, stronger collaboration among African institutions is essential for building resilient digital systems capable of supporting inclusive growth, better governance, and long-term economic development.
He noted that NITDA remains committed to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through the development of policies, standards, and strategic frameworks designed to modernise public institutions and improve service delivery.
“Our goal is to move government institutions beyond basic digitalisation to full digital transformation and ultimately build an intelligent, data-driven government powered by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence,” he said.
Building a Digital-First Government
Inuwa disclosed that NITDA has developed several foundational frameworks to support Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in their digital transformation efforts.
These include the Enterprise Governance Framework, Digital Transformation Framework, and Software Quality Assurance Framework, all designed to guide public institutions in adopting secure, efficient, and standardised digital systems.
He also revealed that since 2018, NITDA has reviewed government IT projects valued at more than ₦1.5 trillion to ensure compliance, technical alignment, and value for money.
According to him, the intervention has enabled the Federal Government to save over ₦300 billion by reducing duplication, promoting shared services, and improving the implementation success rate of digital projects across MDAs.
Strengthening Digital Public Infrastructure
On digital public infrastructure, the NITDA boss said Nigeria has made significant progress by moving away from fragmented agency-level data exchanges toward a more integrated and citizen-focused digital ecosystem.
He highlighted the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platform as a key enabler of seamless interoperability among government institutions.
According to him, the platform provides both federated and centralised mechanisms for secure data exchange while preserving the independence of individual government information systems.
He added that the proposed e-Government and Digital Economy Bill is expected to provide the legal framework necessary to institutionalise digital collaboration and strengthen interoperability across public institutions.
Inuwa also referenced NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) 2024–2027, which aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and prioritises digital literacy, research and development, cybersecurity, innovation, inclusive access, and strategic partnerships.
Benin Seeks Deeper Institutional Collaboration
Earlier, Head of International Partnerships at ASIN, Tildy Erlong, said the visit followed a recent Smart Africaworkshop held in Abuja and was designed to deepen institutional ties while learning from Nigeria’s digital transformation experience.
She described ASIN as the operational agency under Benin Republic’s Ministry of Digital Economy, responsible for implementing national digital initiatives in partnership with institutions such as the country’s identity management agency, ANIP, and cybersecurity authority, CENIN.
Erlong highlighted Benin’s progress in digital public infrastructure, revealing that approximately 98 per cent of the country’s population — about 13.6 million citizens — has been enrolled into its digital identity system.
She added that over 60 government institutions are now connected through Benin’s XROAD interoperability platform, enabling the delivery of more than 250 digital services to citizens.
According to her, Benin is also prioritising digital inclusion, open-source technologies, and artificial intelligence to improve service delivery across key sectors, including healthcare, education, and justice.
The engagement reflects growing momentum among African countries to strengthen cross-border cooperation and build interconnected digital ecosystems capable of supporting governance, economic growth, and citizen-centred public services.
Comments