NITDA, IDCA Seal Partnership on Digital Triangle and Sovereign Cloud to Strengthen AI Infrastructure
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) have signed a strategic partnership aimed at developing large-scale digital infrastructure projects to accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a fully integrated digital economy.
The agreement, anchored on Nigeria’s Sovereign Cloud initiative, is designed to establish an execution-driven and investment-focused framework that combines infrastructure deployment, regulatory standards, and digital workforce development into a unified national platform.
The initiative seeks to attract both public and private sector investments while positioning Nigeria as a major digital infrastructure hub in Africa.
At the heart of the programme is the proposed “Nigeria Digital Triangle (NDT),” a network of strategically located hyperscale, Artificial Intelligence-enabled data centre clusters expected to host global cloud services, enterprise workloads, and support Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
According to the partners, the programme will focus on four major pillars, including the development of a national digital economy masterplan, deployment of interconnected hyperscale infrastructure hubs, establishment of globally aligned digital standards, and implementation of structured education and workforce development programmes to build long-term technical capacity.
Speaking on the partnership, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, described the initiative as a major milestone in Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.
“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 noted that by prioritising digital infrastructure, talent development, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and data sovereignty, Nigeria was laying the foundation for sustainable infrastructure growth, job creation, innovation, and global competitiveness.
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Chairman of IDCA, Mehdi Paryavi, said the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest economy and expand its influence within the global digital ecosystem.
“This is more than a national initiative; it is a platform for long-term economic value creation. By integrating digital infrastructure, standards, talent, investments and policy support, Nigeria is building a competitive advantage in the global digital economy,” he stated.
Also speaking, IDCA’s Chief Research Officer, Roger Strukhoff, said the project represented a decisive step toward positioning Nigeria as a regional digital powerhouse.
Similarly, IDCA’s Global Head of Strategic Services and Head of Europe and Africa, Solomon Edun, said years of collaboration between both organisations had culminated in what he described as a historic moment for Nigeria’s digital future.
“The programme is designed to translate vision into measurable outcomes through infrastructure deployment, investment attraction, and skills development,” he said.
On the regulatory component of the initiative, NITDA’s Acting Director of Regulations and Compliance, Emmanuel Edet, stressed the importance of developing nationally endorsed standards alongside physical infrastructure.
According to him, the framework would help ensure regulatory consistency, data security, and long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The three-year programme is expected to involve structured collaboration among government institutions, private sector operators, and international stakeholders.
The partnership further underscores Nigeria’s growing commitment to leveraging digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and data governance as drivers of economic diversification, innovation, and global integration.
The International Data Center Authority operates in more than 40 countries and focuses on digital infrastructure development, AI policies, digital hubs, and digital economy frameworks.
Meanwhile, National Information Technology Development Agency, established in 2001 and backed by the NITDA Act of 2007, remains Nigeria’s leading agency responsible for coordinating information technology development, digital transformation policies, and the expansion of the country’s digital economy ecosystem.
By PRNigeria
