Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for closer collaboration between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the government to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and support inclusive national development.
Addressing participants at the inaugural Civil Society Summit on Civil Democracy and National Development, held at the Rotunda Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Inuwa underscored the need for a shift from criticism to cooperation in the interest of nation-building.
“There are things the government can do that civil society cannot, and vice versa. But together, we can achieve greater things,” he said. “Nigeria’s progress demands shared responsibility rather than partisan blame.”
He outlined the administration’s eight-point development plan, which encompasses economic reform, national security, agricultural transformation, natural resource development, infrastructure expansion, social sector enhancement, industrial diversification, and improved governance.
Inuwa called for the creation of a national consensus that would safeguard development goals across successive administrations, regardless of political transitions.
Drawing attention to the transformative potential of technology in governance, Inuwa announced a partnership between NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to launch a digital citizen engagement platform powered by artificial intelligence.
The platform, he explained, is designed to deepen youth participation in policymaking and strengthen democratic accountability.
He concluded his address by calling for continued public engagement and consistent communication to rebuild trust between citizens and institutions.
“If we agree on this vision and work together, we can win today’s battles and make Nigeria great,” he stated.
The summit served as a forum for deepening civic engagement, strengthening institutional collaboration, and reinforcing democratic practice across the country.
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