Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is a distinguished leader in Nigeria’s technology sector, known for his strategic vision and technocratic expertise. With over 20 years of experience, he currently serves his second term as Director General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), where he has driven significant advancements in the country’s ICT landscape.

As Nigeria’s first Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) in the public sector, Kashifu has played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s digital economy. Since his appointment in 2019, his leadership has fostered job creation and the establishment of crucial regulatory frameworks that support Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem. His initiatives include the creation of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which focuses on safeguarding data privacy, and the IT project clearance program, which has resulted in billions of Naira in cost savings for the Nigerian government.

Kashifu is also a passionate advocate for digital literacy, spearheading projects like the National Digital Literacy Framework and the “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, both aimed at equipping Nigerians with the essential digital skills needed to thrive in the modern economy.

He holds a degree in Computer Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and has completed executive education programs at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, University of Cambridge, Oxford University, and MIT Sloan School of Management. His leadership continues to inspire innovation, particularly among Nigeria’s youth, as they contribute to the transformation of the digital economy.