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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with two Canadian technology companies, Goose FL and Fireflies AI, as Nigeria steps up efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence infrastructure, expand financial inclusion and deepen participation in the global digital economy.
The agreements were signed in Toronto, with NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi witnessing the signing. The agency said the partnerships are designed to connect Nigeria’s technology ecosystem with international expertise while accelerating the development of local digital and AI capabilities.
Partnerships Target Three Key Areas
NITDA said the agreements are built around three broad priorities: financial inclusion, indigenous AI infrastructure and wider digital economy development.
On financial inclusion, the partnerships are expected to support the development of technology solutions that can expand access to digital financial services, particularly for underserved communities, while creating new economic opportunities.
The agency said the AI component will focus on strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to develop and operate its own AI infrastructure and services. The objective is to ensure that the country can increasingly build and benefit from AI technologies locally rather than depending entirely on systems developed and controlled outside Nigeria.
Technology Transfer and Local Capacity
Beyond deploying new technologies, NITDA said the collaborations will promote technology transfer, innovation and digital skills development.
The agency views access to global technical expertise as an important part of building a stronger domestic technology ecosystem, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important to businesses, government services and economic development.
NITDA said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of growing Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with innovation, digital technology and human capital development identified as key drivers of that objective.
NITDA Expands Digital Partnerships
The new agreements form part of a broader series of digital initiatives being pursued by NITDA.
In June, the agency signed an MoU with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN) to support digital skills development and 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 initiative is intended to extend digital skills opportunities to entrepreneurs in underserved and remote communities.
Cloud Infrastructure Also Gets Attention
The agency’s latest international partnerships come shortly after it introduced key regulatory instruments under Nigeria’s National Sovereign Cloud Initiative (NSCI).
The instruments include the National Cloud Computing Guideline, National Cloud Technical Guideline and National Digital Infrastructure Assurance Framework (NDIAF), alongside the National Cloud Investment Strategy.
The measures are intended to support the development of a trusted domestic cloud ecosystem and strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
Push for Better Government Software
NITDA is also moving to strengthen the quality and security of software deployed across government.
The agency recently launched the National Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework, which requires Federal Government software projects to undergo independent testing and certification before deployment.
Under the framework, NITDA plans to license technology companies to provide independent software testing and certification services.
The agency said the framework is designed to reduce costly technology failures, improve cybersecurity and strengthen public confidence in digital government services. It will become a mandatory requirement for obtaining IT Project Clearance for government software projects from the second quarter of 2027.
Building a Stronger Digital Economy
NITDA’s agreements with Goose FL and Fireflies AI reflect a broader push to combine international technology partnerships with domestic capacity building.
As Nigeria seeks to expand its digital economy, the agency is increasingly focusing not only on technology adoption but also on developing the infrastructure, skills, standards and local expertise required to sustain that growth.
The latest partnerships therefore represent another step in Nigeria’s effort to build a more self-reliant digital ecosystem while using international collaboration to accelerate progress in AI, financial technology, cloud infrastructure and digital innovation.
