The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has urged stronger partnerships among key players in Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem to enhance financial literacy and promote inclusion.

Speaking at the 6th FirstBank FinTech Summit in Lagos, Inuwa emphasized the importance of co-designing and co-creating policies to foster innovation and drive growth in the financial technology sector.

Inuwa highlighted NITDA’s collaborative regulatory approach, which involves engaging stakeholders through a participatory framework. He cited the agency’s partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in implementing the cashless policy, which paved the way for the fintech industry’s rise. “The banks began upgrading their infrastructures, and fintech companies identified and bridged gaps left by traditional banking systems,” he noted.

Inuwa also mentioned ongoing collaborations with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and other stakeholders to develop guidelines for electronic invoicing, creating new opportunities for fintech solutions. Stressing the need for unified regulations and local cloud infrastructure, he remarked,

“Without operational sovereignty, we cannot fully control or secure our digital assets.” He reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to enabling innovations, protecting consumers, and supporting Nigeria’s journey toward a robust digital economy.