Nigeria Must Ignite Entrepreneurship in Digital Space for Sustainable Growth -NITDA Boss
TECH DIGEST – Today, Digital Economy is the fastest growing economy in Nigeria and across the world, in general.
But for Nigeria to sustain and consolidate its economic growth, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said there is need to ignite innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital space.
He made the observation in Abuja during the groundbreaking ceremony and a virtual commissioning of the ‘first-ever’ ‘National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre,’ in Africa and commissioned by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami who commissioned, also hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his support on the project and the approval of the building.
According to Kashifu, digital economy innovation and entrepreneurship play a huge role in creating value and prosperity.
He recalled that their journey started in October 2019, when President Muhammadu Buhari re-designated and expanded the mandate of the Communications ministry to cover digital economy.
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While maintaining that digital economy is mainly driven by rapid business innovation, using digital technology to deliver new customer value proposition, new business model, new organizational structure, and new customer experience, among others, Mall. Kashifu pointed out that, “This cannot be achieved in isolation; we need innovation ecosystem.”
He said to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem in Nigeria, they have keyed into MIT program call REAP – Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program.
According to him, REAP is a global capstone initiative that provides opportunity for communities to engage with MIT in an evidence-based and practical approach to strengthen innovation ecosystem.
He said the Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre will serve as a platform for the MIT-REAP initiative.
Early in his keynote address, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his support on the project and the approval of the building.
Pantami explained that the idea received the overwhelming support of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, because of the huge positive impact it can have on the lives of Nigerians.
The Minister noted that Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship are globally recognized as two prerequisites for achieving an indigenous Digital Economy.
By PRNigeria
