NITDA Boosts Legal Skills with IT Contract Management Workshop

Table of Contents

1. Workshop Introduction
2. Workshop Objectives
3. Keynote Address
4. Participants Engagement
5. Networking Opportunities
6. Conclusion

In an effort to enhance institutional competence within Nigeria’s digital economy sector, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) organized a one-day capacity-building workshop on Information Technology Contract Management for legal officers from parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).

The workshop, which took place in Abuja, aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of procurement procedures, negotiation techniques, compliance frameworks, and dispute resolution mechanisms in IT contracting.

During the event, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, the Director of Regulations and Compliance, representing NITDA's Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, underscored the crucial role that IT contracts play in shaping governance and service delivery in the digital era.

“Digital transformation is no longer just an ambition; it is a necessity. The agreements that govern technology adoption and deployment have long-term implications for Nigeria’s development,” he stated.

“The contracts we negotiate, draft, and execute in the IT sector must be technologically sound, legally robust, commercially fair, and strategically aligned with our institutional mandates,” he added.

Inuwa encouraged participants to regard the workshop not merely as a training session but as a catalyst for collaboration and institutional reform.

“Let this event be more than just a training. It should serve as a prompt for collaboration, a platform for critical thinking, and a starting point for institutional reform. Engage actively, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and leave here not only informed but also empowered,” he urged.

Participants, who came from various professional backgrounds including law, technology, finance, and administration, were praised for their commitment to enhancing standards in public contracting.

Their active involvement, according to the DG, reflects a shared commitment to transparency, efficiency, and innovation across government institutions.

The workshop also provided valuable opportunities for networking and peer learning, allowing officers to share experiences and propose solutions to common challenges in IT contract management.

Many attendees described the training as timely, given the increasing complexity of technology agreements and the rising need for clear legal safeguards in Nigeria’s evolving digital landscape.

Through this initiative, NITDA has once again reaffirmed its leadership in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda. The program aligns with the Agency’s core mandate of capacity building, equipping legal officers with the expertise needed to guide their institutions toward sound and effective technology contracting practices.

This proactive approach enhances institutional capabilities while promoting greater transparency and efficiency in public sector technology engagements.

The training is expected to strengthen institutional processes across ministries, departments, and agencies, contributing to improved public service delivery and furthering Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.