Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is Nigeria’s Chief Tech and Information Officer and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), where he leads the nation’s digital transformation agenda. Since his appointment in 2019, he has worked to position Nigeria as a continental leader in innovation, regulation, and talent development, combining technical expertise with strategic vision to shape the country’s digital future.

He began his career at Galaxy Backbone Limited in 2007, rising from Network Engineer to Solution Architect, where he helped design and deploy critical infrastructure supporting national connectivity. In 2014, he joined the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Technology Architect, where he streamlined IT systems, rationalised licensing, and built frameworks that improved efficiency and cost management. His early career reflected a rare blend of technical precision and systems thinking that continues to define his leadership today.

Under his direction, NITDA has modernised the governance of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, introducing frameworks that strengthen accountability, cybersecurity, and data protection. He has driven the automation of IT project clearance across federal institutions, enhanced enforcement of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, and expanded access to digital learning infrastructure through initiatives such as the Digital Economy Centres and Innovation Labs. These initiatives have positioned public institutions to deliver more efficient, technology-enabled services and empowered a new generation of innovators equipped to drive Nigeria’s digital economy forward.

Guided by this foundation, Mr Abdullahi has overseen the development of the National Digital Talent Strategy to harness Nigeria’s youthful population, the rollout of a network of Innovation Hubs to strengthen the startup ecosystem, and the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act to create a more enabling environment for investors and founders. He also deepened partnerships with organisations including the World Bank, Microsoft, and the African Development Bank, expanding digital skills and entrepreneurship initiatives across Africa. Most recently, he was instrumental in bringing GITEX, one of the world’s largest technology expos, to Nigeria, a milestone that affirmed the nation’s growing leadership in Africa’s digital transformation.

Recognised with the National Productivity Order of Merit and the Forbes Foreign Investment Network’s Outstanding Corporate Governance CEO Award, Mr. Abdullahi continues to champion homegrown innovation, inclusive growth, and partnerships that position Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s digital economy. His work reflects a clear conviction that technology, guided by vision and integrity, can unlock limitless potential for nations and people alike.