By Janefrances Chibuzor
The United Kingdom and Nigeria have deepened their long-standing bilateral partnership with the launch of a high-level international benchmarking and knowledge-exchange programme aimed at improving how government IT projects are cleared, procured, and secured.
The initiative, hosted by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme, brings together some of Britain’s leading digital governance institutions, including the Government Digital Service, Public Digital, Crown Commercial Service, the British Standards Institute, and the FCDO Cyber Policy Department.
A delegation of senior officials from Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone Limited, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission is in London for the week-long engagement taking place from 23 to 28 November 2025. The programme builds on priority areas contained in the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership, particularly economic development, governance reforms, and technology cooperation.
Officials say the sessions will equip Nigeria with practical insights to strengthen NITDA’s IT Project Clearance framework, improve procurement processes for government digital services, and embed global standards in cybersecurity and data governance. It also reinforces the UK’s growing role as a trusted ally in Nigeria’s ambition to build a modern, secure, and inclusive digital public infrastructure.
Representing NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi described the engagement as central to Nigeria’s ongoing reform agenda.
“At the heart of Nigeria’s reforms is our determination to improve government service delivery, reduce waste, strengthen cybersecurity, and build trust in public digital systems. Modernising the IT Projects Clearance process is a key enabler to achieving this vision,” he said. He commended the UK for “consistent support” and expressed optimism that the shared expertise would strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance capacity.
The FCDO’s Director for International Science and Technology, Ros Eales, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to ensuring that digital transformation remains safe, secure and beneficial to all.
“Nigeria is a key partner of the UK in the tech sector,” she said. “This becomes even more important in an era of rapid technological evolution, accelerated by AI, with all its benefits to reap and risks to manage.”
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, noted that the programme reflects the UK’s long-term commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital ambitions.
“The UK is proud to stand as a key partner to Nigeria, leveraging our expertise to drive knowledge exchange in digital governance and institutional reform,” he said. “This collaboration delivers shared economic growth for both nations.”
Head of Digital Development at FCDO London and global lead for the Digital Access Programme, Alessandra Lustrati, presented the UK’s Digital Development Strategy 2024–2030 to the visiting delegation. She emphasised the importance of embedding best practices that ensure government digital services remain open, accessible, citizen-centred and secure.
The programme is expected to set the stage for deeper technical cooperation between both countries while supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build trusted, efficient and citizen-focused digital public services.
