Indigenous Innovation Must Lead Nigeria’s Digital Future, Says ‘DeRemi Atanda

‘DeRemi Atanda, Managing Director of Remita Payment Services Limited, spotlighted the strength of indigenous technology capability and called for a broader recognition of Nigeria’s private sector contribution to digital governance. He made this call during a panel session at the National GovTech Policy Roundtable 2026 in Abuja. Held at the National Assembly Library Trust Fund […]

‘DeRemi Atanda, Managing Director of Remita Payment Services Limited, spotlighted the strength of indigenous technology capability and called for a broader recognition of Nigeria’s private sector contribution to digital governance.

He made this call during a panel session at the National GovTech Policy Roundtable 2026 in Abuja.

Held at the National Assembly Library Trust Fund Complex, the roundtable convened key stakeholders to explore how innovation, investment, and collaboration can drive sustainable governance through technology.

Speaking during the Private Sector Panel, Mr. Atanda clarified the prevailing perceptions about the scope of Remita’s engagement within government, positioning it within a wider ecosystem of technology-driven solutions.

“Many assume that our strength lies primarily within government, but that is not entirely accurate. It simply represents one expression of the breadth of what we do. We are a wholly privately owned organisation, yet we have found ourselves contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s growth by leveraging technology as a purely private sector entity.”

His remarks underpinned a broader narrative, that Nigeria’s digital transformation journey has been shaped significantly by local innovation operating at scale across both public and private sectors.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Convener of the event, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, emphasised that the success of digital transformation must ultimately be measured by its impact on citizens.
“The theme of this round table digital first governance is a strategic posture. It demands that we stop treating technology as an afterthought. The measure of digital first governance will not be found in the servers we procure, the applications that we launch or the policies that we gazette. It will be found in the experience of the Nigerian citizen in whether government is responsive, whether government is accessible, whether government is trustworthy and whether government is just,” he said.

Drawing from institutional experience, Mr. Atanda highlighted a landmark moment in Nigeria’s GovTech history, underscoring the global competitiveness of indigenous firms.

“In 2006, when the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) was conceived as a national project, it was issued as an international bid under the auspices of the World Bank. It was not a local procurement. A Nigerian company emerged successful in that process, and that company was SystemSpecs. This is a success story that Nigeria itself has not sufficiently told. One would struggle to find any government agency that has meaningfully celebrated it. Yet, here we are, 20 years on, having outperformed leading international organisations.

“It is important to note that this was a World Bank-funded project, denominated in dollars, with fully international procurement processes.”
This perspective reframes the narrative around Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure, highlighting that some of its most critical systems have been locally conceived, developed, and sustained.”

Within this context, Remita’s evolution beyond its widely recognised role in powering the Treasury Single Account reflects a platform with a far broader footprint, spanning payments, collections, and financial services infrastructure across sectors.

The National GovTech Policy Roundtable, convened by GovTech Africa in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund, focused on translating policy ambition into actionable outcomes for digital governance.

As Nigeria continues to define its digital future, the emphasis on indigenous capability, private sector leadership, and scalable infrastructure signals a more confident and self-determined approach to GovTech development.
About Remita Payment Services Limited

Remita Payment Services Limited is a leading Nigerian fintech company providing payment, collections, and financial services infrastructure across public and private sectors. As part of the SystemSpecs Group, Remita continues to deliver innovative solutions that drive efficiency, transparency, and economic growth.