Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is a skilled digital transformational expert with cognate competencies in growth management, governance and government relations, talent development, solution architecture, and digital strategy formulation and implementation. Through the execution of several programmes and initiatives, Mr Inuwa was instrumental to the exponential growth in Nigeria’s IT infrastructure and digital economy which was pivotal to the attainment of an 18.44 percent contribution to the country’s GDP in Q2 of 2022, the highest in the history of the sector.
As the current Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Inuwa represents Nigeria’s quest for generational change in leadership with great capacity and integrity. His work has placed the country on the global digital economy map.
Mr Inuwa has garnered nearly 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors and is known for his technical expertise and innovative thinking. He is the first Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) in the Nigerian public sector and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He has also earned several executive certificates from prestigious institutions that include Harvard University, London Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School, Oxford University, IMD Business School, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, transformational leadership, strategic transformation, service management, networking, and solutions design.
His proven track record of excellence in leadership and administration remains unmatched. He is, no doubt, one of the few maestro minds and commanding figures that have shaped Nigeria’s IT industry in the last decade. He recently embarked on a talent discovery and development strategy to create sustainable jobs for Nigerian youths. Mr Inuwa helped the Nigerian government transition into a digital economy and cashless society through his work at both NITDA and CBN where he worked before joining the Agency.
Through the implementation of the IT Projects Clearance instrument, Mr Inuwa has helped Nigeria’s Federal Government save over ₦305 Billion in less than four years. Under Mr Inuwa’s leadership, NITDA has achieved remarkable success in the growth of a vibrant startup ecosystem, making it a leading destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa and attracting about $4.4 billion within three years. Additionally, the implementation of several smart initiatives such as Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship, and the Tech4Covid programme has translated to over 76,180 jobs.
Distinguished not only by his commitment to NITDA but also by his mentorship and education of others, Mr Inuwa has rolled out various strategic initiatives toward IT professional development. So far, more than 3,323,814 Nigerians across all walks of life have benefitted. Furthermore, to address the digital infrastructural gaps in Nigeria, Mr Inuwa has deployed 601 digital infrastructures, including Digital Economy Centres, e-Learning facilities, Desktop Computers, Laptops, iPads, IT Community Centres, IT Hubs, and Innovation Parks across Nigeria.
Mr Inuwa, often referred to as “Kashifu” by his colleagues, friends, and associates, is humble in nature and quiet in demeanour. His leadership success has contributed remarkably to facilitating a sustainable digital economy for Nigeria.