The United Kingdom and Nigeria have strengthened their strategic partnership through a high-level knowledge exchange and benchmarking programme focused on the end-to-end clearance of IT projects and the procurement of public digital products and services.
The week-long engagement, held in London from 23 to 28 November 2025, was hosted by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Digital Access Programme.
It involved collaboration with leading UK digital governance institutions, including the Government Digital Service (GDS), Public Digital, Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the British Standards Institute, and the FCDO Cyber Policy Department.
Senior officials from Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) participated in the programme.
The initiative builds on the pillars of the UK–Nigeria Strategic Partnership, particularly in areas of economic development, governance reform, and technology cooperation.
By sharing knowledge and international best practices, both countries aim to harness digital innovation to drive inclusive growth and improve public service delivery.
In a statement on Wednesday, the FCDO emphasised that the engagement will support Nigeria in enhancing NITDA’s IT project clearance process, improving procurement efficiency, and embedding global standards in cybersecurity, digital, and data governance.
The collaboration also highlighted the UK’s role as a trusted partner in Nigeria’s digital transformation while facilitating access to the UK’s technology supply chain for Nigerian stakeholders.
During the opening session, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdulahi, representing NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, underscored the importance of the programme.
“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 critical enabler to achieving this vision.
”We commend the UK’s FCDO through the Digital Access Programme for its unwavering support to Nigeria’s digital transformation journey,” he said.
Ros Eales, FCDO Director for International Science and Technology, highlighted the broader strategic significance of the partnership.
“Nigeria is a key partner of the UK in the technology sector. Working with partner countries like Nigeria ensures that digital transformation is safe, secure, and sustainable, especially in this era of rapid technological change, accelerated by AI, with all its benefits and risks,” she said.
Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, noted: “The UK is proud to support Nigeria through technical collaboration in digital governance and institutional reform.
”This partnership demonstrates our commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation and to creating strategic collaborations that drive shared economic growth.”
Alessandra Lustrati, Head of Digital Development at FCDO London and global lead of the UK Digital Access Programme, presented the Digital Development Strategy 2024–2030 to the Nigerian delegation.
She emphasised the importance of implementing best practices to ensure government digital services are accessible, citizen-driven, open, and secure.
The London programme is expected to have lasting impacts on Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and governance, reinforcing the country’s ambition to modernize public service delivery and adopt global best practices in technology and data management.
