The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered into partnerships with Canadian technology companies Goose FL and Fireflies AI as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital transformation and expand the country’s presence in the global technology ecosystem.
NITDA disclosed this in a statement following the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the two Canadian firms in Toronto, Canada, with the agreements witnessed by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the agency’s director-general.
According to the agency, the partnerships will focus on expanding financial inclusion, deploying local Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure and strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy through technology transfer, innovation and capacity development.
Under the financial inclusion pillar, NITDA said the collaboration would support the development of technology solutions capable of broadening access to digital financial services and creating sustainable economic opportunities for underserved communities.
The agency added that the partnership would also facilitate the deployment of indigenous AI infrastructure and services, with the aim of improving Nigeria’s capacity to develop, manage and derive value from AI technologies locally.
The third area of focus is the broader digital economy, where the partnerships are expected to promote long-term economic growth through international technology collaborations, innovation, technology transfer and digital capacity development.
NITDA said the agreements would help strengthen local capabilities while connecting Nigeria’s technology ecosystem with global expertise, creating opportunities for citizens and businesses and ensuring that emerging technologies deliver tangible economic value.
The latest agreements form part of a broader push by NITDA in recent months to deepen technology partnerships, expand digital skills and strengthen the infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s digital economy.
In June, the agency signed an MoU with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN) to accelerate digital skills development and strengthen innovation infrastructure across the six South-West states.
NITDA also partnered with TikTok in June to establish a Digital Commerce Lab for small and medium-sized enterprises in Lagos, supported by a $20,000 pilot Train-the-Trainer programme.
The agency said the initiative was designed to extend digital skills training to entrepreneurs in remote and underserved communities across the country.
Earlier in August, NITDA advanced its National Sovereign Cloud Initiative (NSCI) with the signing of key regulatory instruments aimed at establishing a trusted cloud ecosystem and strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The instruments include the National Cloud Computing Guideline, National Cloud Technical Guideline and National Digital Infrastructure Assurance Framework (NDIAF), alongside the presentation of the National Cloud Investment Strategy.
