Suleiman Isah
Suleiman Isah | |
|---|---|
 Isah as Commissioner for Communications Technology and Digital Economy | |
| Director-General of Niger State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (NSITDEA) | |
| Assumed office 14 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Commissioner for Communications Technology and Digital Economy, Niger State | |
| In office 16 August 2023 – 14 March 2026 | |
| Succeeded by | Office restructured to NSITDEA |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Suleiman Isah 31 October 1986 Minna, Niger State, Nigeria |
| Education | Igbinedion University, Okada |
| Occupation | Public administrator, technology professional |
Suleiman Isah (born 31 October 1986) is a Nigerian technology expert and public administrator currently serving as the inaugural Director-General of Niger State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (NSITDEA) created by the administration of Governor Mohammed Bago in 2026. Isah previously served as first and only commissioner for the Ministry of Communications Technology and Digital Economy from 2023 to 2026 when the ministry transitioned into an autonomous statutory regulatory body NSITDEA.[1][2] IT Edge News Africa named him one of Nigeria’s 50 Most Valuable Digital Economy Leaders in 2025.[3]
Background and education
Isah was born in Minna, Niger State. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Information Technology at the Igbinedion University, Nigeria and a master’s degree in Information Security and Digital Forensic at the University of East London.[4][5]
Career
Isah started his career as an intern at the First Bank of Nigeria offering system support, network administration and technology service delivery before joining the federal civil service. His career in the public service began at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria before being transferred to National Primary Health Care Development Agency providing IT and system support.[5]
In 2012, he joined the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS (since renamed Nigeria Revenue Service, NRS) as an IT Officer and was later promoted as Technical Aide to the Head of Networks and Infrastructure managing WAN/SAN enterprise deployment across federal tax offices nationwide. He left FIRS to join Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA) as Special Assistant Technical Matters to the Managing Director of the agency leading IT modernization.[5][6]
Niger State information technology and digital economy
In 2023 Isah was appointed as Commissioner for Communications Technology and Digital Economy by Governor Mohammed Bago following the creation of the ministry to develop digital infrastructure for e-governance and digital economy.[7] In 2024, his ministry’s policy for fast broadband development and connectivity led Niger State government to waive the Right-of-Way charge for fibre-optic network providers as an incentive.[8] Same year, the ministry developed a framework that centralized the state’s IT infrastructure under the ministry to regulate, improve standard, security, and cut government spending on fragmented IT infrastructure across government ministries and agencies. The centralization was given legal effect with executive order No. 01, 2024.[9] The unification led to the connection of 153 MDAs to high-speed broadband, introduction of electronic civil service recruitment, e-promotion exams and AI payroll oversight saving ₦500 million monthly.[10]
In 2026, the Ministry of Communications Technology and Digital Economy of Niger State was restructured into a statutory organisation - Niger State Information Technology and Digital Economy Agency (NSITDEA) and Isah was appointed as its first Director-General.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Nigeria's Niger state pivots to agency model to shield govtech from politics". govinsider.asia. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "How Suleiman Isah drove Niger's digital transformation with bold reforms in two years". P.M. News. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Ogunseyin, Oluyemi (2025-05-30). "Firm honours Niger commissioner for digital economy". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ↑ "Meet Suleiman Isah, the Newly Appointed Niger State..." Daily Trust. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- 1 2 3 Nwafor (2026-04-06). "How Suleiman Isah is driving a digital renaissance in Niger state". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ↑ "How Suleiman Isah drove Niger's digital transformation with bold reforms in two years". P.M. News. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ↑ Shojobi, Abisola (2025-12-15). "Empowering Traders, Small Businesses To Scale In Niger". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ↑ "2 Years in Office: Reflecting on Suleiman Isah's Giant Strides as Niger State Commissioner". This Day. Retrieved 2026-06-07.
- ↑ "Niger Issues Official Gazette On Digital Economy". 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ Nigeria, News Agency of (2026-05-30). "Niger agency saves N500 million monthly through AI payroll reform". Peoples Gazette Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-07-08.