In a bold call for change, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has urged Nigeria’s construction industry to move “from blueprints to bytes” by embracing digital technologies. This shift, he noted, is essential to transform project delivery, boost productivity, and position the sector at the forefront of innovation.
Delivering a keynote presentation titled “Digital Transformation in the Nigerian Construction Industry” at a two-day workshop organized by the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), FCT Chapter, the DG outlined the tools for this impending revolution. Represented by Dr. Yahaya Onimisi, the Agency’s Acting Director of Project Management, Inuwa stressed that emerging technologies are necessary foundations for the future, not just optional upgrades.
He highlighted key technologies that can reshape the sector, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Data Analytics, and Cloud Collaboration tools. According to him, adopting these tools is a sure-fire route to improving service delivery, enhancing accuracy, boosting productivity, and creating smarter project management systems across the entire construction value chain.
“As the urgent need for modernisation is becoming more apparent, the future of construction lies in digital transformation. By embracing innovation, Nigeria’s Quantity Surveyors can drive smarter, faster, and more transparent infrastructure development,” Inuwa stated.
The DG noted that while the sector currently faces challenges like project delays, cost overruns, and resistance to change, digital transformation presents both a disruption and an opportunity. By embracing innovation, Nigerian Quantity Surveyors (QS) can reposition themselves from routine cost measurement to strategic, data-driven roles. He defined this change as not merely about adopting new technology but “fundamentally changing business processes, culture, and skills.”
To accelerate digital adoption, the NITDA boss called for stronger partnerships between NITDA and NIQS. He outlined areas for collaboration, including capacity building, policy alignment, innovation labs, and the development of a sector-specific digital transformation roadmap aligned with the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0.
Inuwa concluded by asserting that with strategic investments, government support, and continuous professional development—similar to NITDA’s collaborations with bodies like the NMA and NUJ—the construction industry can unlock new opportunities, improve transparency, and achieve smarter project management outcomes.