Kashifu Abdullahi

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Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi
Isa-Ali-Pantami-and-Kashifu-Inuwa-Abdullahi-cc.png
Born1980|02|21
Citizenship Nigeria
Education Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University(Ba.Comp.Science)
Alma mater Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Sloan School of Management, IMD Business School, University of Cambridge
Occupations computer scientist, network engineer and technology architect
Years active2006 - present
Employer National Information Technology Development Agency
Known forNetwork engineering
Notable workCisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
Predecessor Isa Pantami

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi (born 21 February 1980) is a Nigerian computer scientist, network engineer and technology architect who has served as the director general and chief executive officer of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) since 2019. [1] [2] He previously held technical and architectural roles at Galaxy Backbone Limited and at the Central Bank of Nigeria. [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Abdullahi was born in Hadejia, Jigawa State, Nigeria. He attended Hudu Primary School before completing his secondary education at SSS Kafin Hausa. [4] He studied at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, graduating with a bachelor's degree in computer science. He holds several executive certifications in networking, innovation, solutions design and leadership from Oxford University, Harvard University and University of Cambridge. [5] He is an alumnus of Sloan School of Management, IMD Business School, Switzerland and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). [5]

Career

Abdullahi began his career in 2006 as a network engineer at Galaxy Backbone Ltd – a Nigerian federal agency tasked with unifying Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government of Nigeria. [5] He was one of the first Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) in the Nigeria public sector. Abdullahi left Galaxy Backbone in 2014 and joined the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). [6]

At the CBN he served as a technology architect and was part of a team that implemented a software license rationalization framework at the CBN, which reportedly reduced duplication and contributed to significant cost savings, including reductions in redundant software and associated costs. [7] He served at the CBN until 2017 when he was appointed as technical assistant to the then director general of National Information Technology Development Agency,replacing Isa Pantami. [8] [9] [10]

Director general of NITDA

On 20 August 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Abdullahi as director general and CEO of NITDA following the appointment of Isa Pantami as minister of Communication and Digital Economy. [11] [12] [13] In 2021, Abdullahi launched the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021 – 2024) which provided direction for Nigeria's digital economy and created opportunities for Nigerian youths. [14] He introduced IT Project Clearance program which cleared 575 special IT Projects across 267 MDAs with a total sum of 1.4 trillion naira and helped federal government in saving over 45 billion naira in cost of projects execution. [15] He upgraded the agency's Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Center (CERRC) enhancing its cybersecurity and protection for Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) against cyber-attacks. [16]

In October 2023, President Bola Tinubu reappointed Abdullahi for a second term as DG and CEO of NITDA. [17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2023-11-08). "Kashifu Inuwa: Tinubu's stamp for unrivalled feats at NITDA". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  2. ↑ Jeremiah, Urowayino (2023-02-04). "Buhari renews appointment of NITDA DG". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  3. ↑ Meshioye, David (2026-01-11). "From Jigawa to Abuja: How Kashifu Inuwa's early years shaped Digital Economy". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  4. ↑ "The ATBU Years: How University Life Prepared Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi for a Career in National Digital Transformation". Businessday NG. 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  5. 1 2 3 Times, C. I. O. (2024-12-12). "Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi: The Architect of Nigeria's Digital Transformation". CIOTIMES. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. ↑ Olowookere, Dipo (2019-09-03). "Kashifu Abdullahi: An IT Czar and his Holistic Vision for NITDA". Business Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. ↑ olufemiajasa (2026-01-27). "Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi: Nigeria's premier solutions architect". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
  8. ↑ Omoniyi, Faith (2023-10-12). "Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi reappointed as NITDA DG". TechCabal. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  9. ↑ "Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi: A Worthy Youth Ambassador in Governance, By Comrade Mustapha Ya'u Gumel". Premium Times . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  10. ↑ "What we know about Kashifu Abdullahi, the new NITDA DG". 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  11. ↑ "NITDA: How we managed Nigeria's data security in one year -..." Daily Trust . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  12. ↑ "Kashifu Inuwa Abdullah in one year, has held the bull of Nigeria's information technology development by the horns". Businessday NG. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  13. ↑ "Kashifu Inuwa bags Forbes CEO Award as NITDA trains 100..." Daily Trust . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  14. ↑ "Inuwa Abdullahi is Adventurous, Gritty – THISDAYLIVE". This Day . Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  15. ↑ Oluka, Peter (2025-05-19). "FG Saves N300Bn from IT Projects' Clearance – NITDA". Tech | Business | Economy. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  16. ↑ "Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi: Boosting Nigeria's digital economy through visionary leadership". Businessday NG. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  17. ↑ Nwachukwu, John Owen (2023-10-11). "President Tinubu retains Kashifu Abdullahi as DG of NITDA". Daily Post . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
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