By Hassan Taiye

In a bold move to boost cybersecurity and rebuild public confidence in the digital economy, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched the National Digital Trustmark Initiative aimed to certify and verify legitimate online platforms operating in the country, curbing the proliferation of fraudulent websites and promoting secure digital interactions.

Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, announced the initiative in Abuja on Thursday said the trustmark initiative will serve as a visible indicator of credibility for e-commerce sites, fintech platforms, government portals, and other digital services that meet rigorous security and transparency standards.

According to him, the Trustmark would serve as a verifiable seal of authenticity for legitimate online platforms, ensuring Nigerians can transact safely and securely in the digital space.

The NITDA boss hinted that digital economy has been Nigeria’s fastest-growing sector for almost five years, surpassing oil and gas and other key sectors in its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The digital economy has already bypassed the oil and gas sector in terms of contribution to our GDP. Today, the services sector contributes over 58% to Nigeria’s GDP, and almost all these services are powered by digital technology,” he said.

He noted, while digitisation has created vast opportunities, it has also brought challenges such as cyber fraud, identity theft, and fake online platforms that erode public trust and discourage online transactions.

“Technology is a double-edged sword. As good actors use it to enhance productivity and efficiency, bad actors exploit it to cause harm.

‘Many people are discouraged from transacting online due to lack of trust and confidence. This also affects our international reputation, as Nigeria is often unfairly stigmatised as a hub for cybercrime,” he added.

Inuwa explained that the Digital Trustmark is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote digital inclusion, protect consumers, and strengthen trust in the online economy.

The initiative was co-created by NITDA, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and GIZ, the German international development agency, to ensure collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners.

Under the new framework, every verified company, e-commerce platform, government agency, and online business will display a Trustmark seal on their website.

The seal, which can be scanned or clicked for verification, will confirm that the platform is genuine, legally registered, and compliant with Nigeria’s data and cybersecurity standards.

The verification process, he said will include manual and automated checks such as corporate registration (CAC), Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation, and address validation. Once approved, the business will be issued a Trustmark certificate and a digital badge for display on its platform.

“The seal will make it easy for citizens to distinguish between authentic and fake websites. Many scammers clone websites that look exactly like banks or known brands. With the Trustmark, people can easily identify verified platforms and transact safely,” he said.

The project, currently facilitated by GIZ and NACCIMA, includes a steering committee for oversight, a Trustmark portal and mobile app for managing certification lifecycles, covering issuance, validation, revocation, and renewal and licensed verifiers who will onboard online sellers and platform owners.

The National Digital Trustmark initiative is designed to provide a verifiable certification mechanism or badge of trust for e-commerce and other online platforms in Nigeria. This initiative was originally initiated by NITDA but currently being facilitated by GIZ, a German international cooperation agency and NACCIMA (Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture). It is aimed to strengthen consumer confidence, promote fair competition, and elevate Nigerian businesses to global standards.
Trust, as we know, is the currency of the digital age. The National Digital Trustmark will serve as a seal of assurance, enabling Nigerians and enterprises to engage online with confidence, security, and pride.