.as NITDA DG charges startups at builders festival, build to solve, not to show off
A new chapter in transparent and accountable local governance has begun as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) officially flagged off the Local Government Website Pilot Initiative in Nasarawa State under the theme: “Deepening Transparency and Accountability at the Grassroots Through Digital Disclosure.”
Launching the initiative, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to openness, accountability and citizen-centred governance, declaring that the era of secrecy in local government administration is over.
“Once funds are received, the people will know what was received, when it was received, and how it is being utilised, he assured.
Governor Sule noted that transparency is not merely about publishing information but about empowering citizens to access government activities, monitor projects, and actively participate in governance and development.
The initiative, a collaboration between NITDA and ICPC, is being piloted in Nasarawa State with the ultimate goal of deploying standardised websites across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. Through these platforms, citizens will have access to information on allocations, budgets, expenditure, procurement processes, projects and service delivery within their local councils.
Speaking on the significance of the project, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa , CCIE, described it as a transformative governance initiative designed to bring government closer to the people through technology.
He declared, “We are not simply building websites. We are laying the foundation for digitally empowered local governments that are transparent, accountable, responsive and connected to the people they serve.”
According to the NITDA boss, the project will improve governance, strengthen citizen engagement and create economic opportunities by leveraging local talents to build, manage and sustain digital platforms that support service delivery at the grassroots.
He explained that the Agency’s vision extends far beyond creating websites, noting that the real objective is to enable 774 digitally transformed local governments capable of delivering better services and experiences to millions of Nigerians.
On his part, the Chairman of ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, described the initiative as a landmark step towards entrenching accountability and preventing corruption at the grassroots level, especially as Nigeria advances local government autonomy. “Transparency must accompany autonomy.”
He stated that the digital disclosure platform would empower citizens to track public spending, monitor projects, access key governance information and engage constructively with their local councils.
According to him, transparency should not be viewed as a punitive measure but as a powerful tool for strengthening public trust, improving service delivery and promoting responsible governance.
Together, NITDA, ICPC and the Nasarawa State Government are demonstrating how technology can be deployed to deepen accountability, strengthen citizen participation and improve governance outcomes at the grassroots level.
As the pilot state, Nasarawa is expected to provide a model for nationwide implementation, paving the way for a future where all 774 Local Government Areas operate on transparent, accessible and citizen-focused digital platforms.
From enhanced public access to information to improved oversight of government activities, the initiative signals a bold move towards a more open and digitally enabled governance system, ensuring that citizens can see not only what government promises, but also how public resources are being utilised to deliver development at the grassroots.
Nasarawa is leading the way, but the destination is a more transparent and accountable local government system across all 774 local councils in Nigeria.
Build To Solve, Not To Show Off — NITDA DG Charges Startups At Builders Festival
Meanwhile, The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has inaugurated the Builders Festival, a platform designed to connect Nigerian startups with investors, potential customers and organisations seeking technology-driven solutions to pressing business and societal challenges.
Speaking at the inauguration on the sidelines of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE), Abdullahi challenged technology entrepreneurs to look beyond developing impressive products and focus instead on solving problems that affect the daily lives of Nigerians.
He stressed that the country’s numerous challenges should be viewed as unmet needs and opportunities for innovation rather than obstacles to progress.
Abdullahi pointed out that everyday health challenges present opportunities for health technology entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions that could improve access to healthcare across the country.
He highlighted agriculture as another sector with significant room for technological innovation, pointing to the difficulties farmers face in dealing with unpredictable weather, poor soil information and limited access to markets.
According to him, digital solutions that provide farmers with timely weather forecasts, soil information, guidance on planting and fertiliser application, as well as market connections, could improve productivity and household incomes.
Abdullahi said the Builders Festival was established to address a critical gap between people who understand the problems and those with the technical capacity to solve them, and noted that the event goes beyond celebrating startups.
He explained that its central purpose is to bring together problem owners, technology builders, corporate organisations, potential customers and investors to create partnerships that can turn ideas into viable businesses.
“The goal is not to be in love with your technology, but to be in love with the problem you are solving. It’s about how your solutions can help millions of Nigerians improve their productivity and national prosperity,’’ adding that technology development alone does not guarantee commercial success.
Abdullahi revealed that NITDA’s research indicated that 80 per cent of Nigerian adults wanted access to telemedicine, but only 19 per cent had ever used the service, adding that more than 40 per cent of Nigeria’s population were farmers, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for the overwhelming majority of businesses in the country, continue to face difficulties accessing bank credit.
He challenged startups to develop digital solutions that could improve agricultural productivity and help SMEs maintain proper financial records, demonstrate business performance and build the transparency banks need to extend credit.
The NITDA boss further emphasised that access to technology must translate into actual adoption and measurable improvements in productivity, arguing that having a mobile phone or access to digital services means little if people cannot use them to save time, reduce costs, improve their businesses and increase their incomes.
He urged founders to build solutions that can deliver significant productivity gains, create wealth and contribute to national prosperity, while developing products with the potential to compete in international markets.
Abdullahi disclosed that more than 1,388 startups applied to participate in the Builders Festival, but only about 30 were selected. He congratulated the successful participants and urged them to measure their success by the number of lives and businesses their innovations can improve.
He added that the country needs platforms that bring problem owners and problem solvers together, supported by the right institutional environment, to accelerate technology adoption, expand opportunities and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
The Builders Festival is the product of a strategic partnership between NITDA and Tech Revolution Africa to create a platform where Nigerian innovators can move beyond developing technology for its own sake and focus on creating practical solutions to the country’s pressing challenges.
Through the partnership, both organisations aim to strengthen connections between startups, investors, corporate organisations and institutions with real problems that require technology-driven solutions.
The Builders Festival will encourage collaboration, attract investment, promote the adoption of homegrown solutions and support the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
