NITDA, IDCA Unveil ‘Digital Triangle’ Plan to Power Nigeria’s Tech Economy

 

"The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s Sovereign Cloud initiative, aiming to create an execution-driven and investment-led framework that integrates infrastructure deployment, regulatory standards, and workforce development into a single national platform." NITDA 

..... As NITDA's DG, Kashifu Inuwa, describes the initiative as a turning point in the country’s economic evolution.

..... Says “This initiative represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s economic transformation, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing the Digital Economy and Data Sovereignty Agenda.” 

Nigeria has taken a major step toward accelerating its digital transformation, following a strategic partnership between National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) to launch a large-scale national digital infrastructure programme.

The initiative, announced in Abuja on May 12, is designed to position Nigeria as a leading digital economy through coordinated investments in infrastructure, policy, and talent development.

Central to the programme is the proposed “Nigeria Digital Triangle (NDT)”—a network of AI-enabled, hyperscale data centre clusters strategically located across the country to host global cloud services and enterprise operations, while serving as the backbone of Nigeria’s emerging digital ecosystem.

The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s Sovereign Cloud initiative, aiming to create an execution-driven and investment-led framework that integrates infrastructure deployment, regulatory standards, and workforce development into a single national platform.

Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, described the initiative as a turning point in the country’s economic evolution.

“This initiative represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s economic transformation, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing the Digital Economy and Data Sovereignty Agenda,” he said. “By prioritising digital infrastructure, talent development, data sovereignty, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship, Nigeria is laying a strong foundation for sustainable growth, job creation, and innovation-driven development.”

Chairman of IDCA, Mehdi Paryavi, emphasised Nigeria’s continental significance, stating: “Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and has the potential to become larger and more impactful… This is more than a national initiative—it is a platform for long-term economic value creation.”

Also speaking, IDCA’s Chief Research Officer, Roger Strukhoff, noted that the programme positions Nigeria as a future regional digital powerhouse, adding that it offers “a structured, investment-ready approach that aligns strategy with execution and global best practices.”

Global Head of Strategic Services at IDCA, Solomon Edun, described the partnership as “a historic moment,” stressing that the focus on infrastructure deployment, investment attraction, and skills development would deliver “measurable outcomes” and a scalable digital ecosystem.

On the regulatory front, NITDA’s Acting Director of Regulations and Compliance, Emmanuel Edet, underscored the importance of standards, noting that “nationally endorsed benchmarks, implemented alongside enabling infrastructure, are critical to ensuring regulatory consistency, data security, and long-term sustainability.”

The programme will be implemented over three years, with defined milestones and collaboration across government, private sector, and international partners.

Analysts say the initiative could significantly boost Nigeria’s push for economic diversification, leveraging digital infrastructure to drive innovation, attract investment, and deepen global integration.