The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration on digital transformation and media regulation amid the growing convergence of Nigeria’s technology and broadcasting sectors.
The understanding was reached when the Director-General of NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, received his NBC counterpart, Mr Charles Ebuebu, on a courtesy visit aimed at building strategic partnerships in digital transformation and regulatory frameworks.
Abdullahi said NITDA was committed to deeper inter-agency cooperation, stressing that effective regulation must evolve alongside rapid digital transformation in today’s technology-driven environment.
He disclosed that the agency had embarked on an internal reform programme to transition from a traditional civil service institution into a high-velocity, smart public sector organisation capable of responding swiftly to emerging digital realities.
According to him, the transformation became imperative due to entrenched bureaucratic mindsets inherited from the mainstream civil service, which required deliberate efforts to reset attitudes and modernise operational practices.
“More than 70 to 80 per cent of our staff came from the mainstream public service, and we understand the prevailing mindset. We began changing that narrative by focusing on people—resetting mindsets, building capacity, and fostering a culture that supports innovation and accountability,” Abdullahi said.
He explained that NITDA’s digital transformation strategy rests on three pillars: people, processes and technology, noting that technology alone cannot deliver value without skilled personnel and efficient systems.
As part of the reform process, Abdullahi said the agency implemented a cultural reorientation programme supported by audits and initiatives designed to create psychological safety, allowing staff to freely contribute ideas and collaborate across departments without fear.
“This was critical to enabling staff at all levels to challenge existing processes constructively and engage in both horizontal and vertical collaboration without fear of reprisal,” he added.
He further revealed that NITDA had streamlined over 396 internal processes to reduce inefficiencies and enable automation, trained all staff in artificial intelligence to improve productivity, and developed a digital transformation playbook to support NBC through capacity building, digital literacy and regulatory modernisation.
Earlier, NBC Director-General Charles Ebuebu called for stronger institutional ties between both agencies, describing the partnership as long overdue given the rapid convergence of media and technology.
He said formalising collaboration would enable both organisations to better address emerging challenges in media, technology and data governance, while shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
Ebuebu added that a strategic partnership between NBC and NITDA would strengthen media regulation, support content creation and distribution, promote the growth of local media, encourage knowledge transfer, and safeguard Nigeria’s cultural and national interests.