The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has reaffirmed the importance of technology in combating corruption and driving efficiency in government operations.
Abdullahi made this disclosure in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships at NITDA, Dr. Olufemi Adeluyi, during the just-concluded ITGov 2025 conference in Abuja.
The conference, themed “Advancing Government Operations Through Digital Transformation,” convened policymakers, technology experts, and public sector leaders to explore how digital innovation can enhance transparency, accountability, and service delivery across government institutions.
The NITDA DG said digital platforms, if properly deployed, could significantly reduce fraud in the public sector by creating systems that are transparent and difficult to manipulate.
“Digital platforms leave audit trails. They are hard to manipulate. E-procurement, e-payment, and blockchain-based land registries can significantly reduce fraud and corruption,” he said.
Abdullahi emphasized that digitizing government processes enhances transparency, reduces waste, and improves service delivery. He described technology as a weapon against inefficiency and injustice.
Citing a World Bank report, he noted that countries implementing digital procurement save an average of 20% in public spending and urged Nigeria to adopt such practices.
Abdullahi explained that under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA has collaborated with various MDAs to create and implement Digital Transformation Plans focused on automation, cloud adoption, and data-driven services.
He also stressed that digital transformation must ensure inclusion by prioritizing access and connectivity for all segments of society.
“Digital government bridges the gap between rural and urban, young and old, rich and poor. With over 122 million Nigerians online and mobile penetration at over 90 per cent, we must meet citizens where they are: online, mobile, and on-demand,” he said.
Abdullahi called for greater investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building for public servants, inter-agency collaboration, and cybersecurity to sustain digital governance.
He urged government agencies to adopt digital reforms and build a responsive, transparent, and inclusive system, noting that Nigeria’s governance future hinges on swift digital transformation.
Also speaking at the event, the Country Manager for Nigeria and Regional Head of West Africa at ManageEngine,
Srinivasan Rajasekar, highlighted that the company offers over 60 enterprise solutions to automate and manage complex IT infrastructures.
Rajasekar noted that ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation, delivers a range of tools that support enterprise service management, unified endpoint management, and network monitoring, helping organizations streamline and manage their IT operations effectively.
Rajasekar stated that ManageEngine has been active in Nigeria for more than 20 years, establishing a solid footprint in both the public and private sectors.
He noted that their solutions are offered in hybrid formats, supporting both on-premises and cloud deployments through their local partner, Tranter IT.
In her remarks, the Group Executive Director at Tranter IT, Melanie Ayoola, emphasized that IT automation solutions like Manage engine are crucial for boosting productivity and service delivery in government institutions.
She noted that over 50% of Nigeria’s largest enterprises already use Manage Engine to manage help desk operations, resolve IT issues, and secure endpoints.
Ayoola explained that unresolved IT problems in large government organizations can hinder public services and reduce workforce efficiency.
With more than 160 MDAs attending the event, she said the company aims to increase government adoption of IT automation solutions by 30% before year-end.
