The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced a new initiative to develop artificial intelligence-enabled digital hubs across Nigeria, in partnership with the International Data Center Authority (IDCA). This move is designed to accelerate the country's ambition of becoming a leading digital economy.
According to a statement from NITDA's Director of Corporate Communications, Hadiza Umar, the partnership aims to build a unified digital ecosystem that integrates infrastructure deployment, regulatory standards, talent development, and investment mobilization. The initiative is anchored on the Nigerian Sovereign Cloud project.
Nigeria Digital Triangle
Central to the plan is the "Nigeria Digital Triangle (NDT)," a network of hyperscale, AI-enabled data center clusters strategically located across the country. These hubs will serve as the backbone for enterprise cloud services, data hosting, and advanced digital solutions for both public and private sectors.
The initiative is structured to attract domestic and international capital while laying the foundation for long-term economic transformation through technology.
Four Key Pillars
The program is built around four pillars: a national digital economy masterplan with measurable milestones, hyperscale infrastructure development through interconnected digital hubs, adoption of global digital standards, and a structured education and workforce development framework for sustainable capacity building.
NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa described the initiative as a defining moment in Nigeria's digital transformation journey, reaffirming the government's commitment to data sovereignty and innovation-led growth.
"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," Inuwa said. He added that collaboration with IDCA and technical working groups would strengthen infrastructure, talent creation, AI adoption, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.
IDCA Chairman Mehdi Paryavi highlighted Nigeria's potential to become a dominant force in Africa's digital landscape due to its economic size and population. "Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and has the potential to become larger and more impactful to the lives of the people of Africa and beyond," he said, describing the project as a long-term platform for economic value creation.
IDCA Chief Research Officer Roger Strukhoff noted that the initiative is a significant step toward building a regional digital powerhouse, aligning with global best practices and investment-ready frameworks. "Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward becoming a regional digital powerhouse. This is a structured, investment-ready approach that aligns strategy with execution and global best practices," he said.
Solomon Edun, Global Head of Strategic Services and Head of Europe and Africa at IDCA, said the partnership reflects years of collaboration and shared vision. The initiative is designed to convert policy aspirations into measurable outcomes through structured implementation, infrastructure deployment, and skills development.
The initiative is expected to be implemented over three years, with clear milestones and active participation from government institutions, private sector players, and international partners. NITDA stated that the project demonstrates Nigeria's broader strategy of leveraging digital infrastructure for economic diversification, innovation, and global integration.
