Profile of Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of NITDA

Profile: Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi – Director-General of NITDA

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, a distinguished Nigerian Technocrat born on 21st February 1980, holds the esteemed position of Director-General at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). With a wealth of expertise in strategy implementation, solutions architecture, and transformational leadership, Abdullahi has made significant contributions to the technology sector and beyond.

Professional Journey: Abdullahi embarked on his professional journey as a Network Engineer in 2005 at Galaxy Backbone, and over the years, he has amassed an impressive 18 years of corporate experience in both the private and public IT domains. He is recognized as a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) and holds the title of Fellow at the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). His dedication to the field was further recognized through the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (Leadership and Management) from California Metropolitan University in London during the Leaders Without Borders Annual Business Summit.

Career and Public Service: Before ascending to the position of Director-General at NITDA, Abdullahi served in key roles at various prominent organizations. Notably, he was a senior network engineer at Galaxy Backbone Ltd from 2007 to 2013 and subsequently a senior technology solutions architect at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, he joined NITDA as a Technical Assistant to the then Director-General, Isa Pantami, and eventually earned the appointment as DG in 2019 by the former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

Key Achievements and Contributions: Abdullahi’s tenure as the DG/CEO of NITDA has been marked by a series of strategic initiatives and projects aimed at fostering digital inclusion, accelerating innovation, creating jobs, and improving access to critical IT infrastructure across Nigeria. Under his guidance, the Nigerian ICT sector’s performance significantly contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He has also been instrumental in upskilling and reskilling over 1.5 million Nigerians from various career disciplines and formulating essential policy frameworks guiding the Nigerian government’s IT interventions.

Awards and Recognitions: In recognition of his outstanding contributions to leadership and technology, Abdullahi has received numerous awards, including the Honorary Doctor of Business Administration (Leadership and Management) by California Metropolitan University (CMU), the National Productivity Order of Merit Award, the African Leadership Commendation Award, and the ISACA Global Inspirational Leadership Award, among others. These accolades underscore his significant impact on the technological landscape and his unwavering commitment to driving ICT development and digital entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi continues to demonstrate exceptional leadership and a forward-thinking approach, positioning Nigeria on the global map as a hub for technology-driven advancements and innovations. His dedication to leveraging technology for societal transformation and economic growth sets a commendable example for the tech industry and aspiring professionals alike.