The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has successfully equipped 282 young minds with cutting-edge technology knowledge, promoting digital inclusion across all age groups.

This educational initiative, known as NITDA’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Boot Camp for Kids (SB4KIDS), ran from August 21 to September 2, catering to children aged 8 to 16 years.SB4KIDS, an NITDA initiative, aspires to foster a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among youngsters while cultivating an early interest in digital and emerging technologies.

The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), an NITDA subsidiary, took the lead in organizing and executing this program.The comprehensive training program delved into diverse areas of ICT, including Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Coding, and Virtual Reality.

These sessions were designed to bolster digital inclusion and set the stage for a tech-savvy future.Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of NITDA, encouraged the children to explore the boundless opportunities in the digital realm.

He emphasized that the digital world knows no limits and aimed to enhance their talents and creativity for the future.

READ ALSO: Digital Economy: NITDA Coordinates Nigeria’s Participation at G20 Ministerial Meeting 

Inuwa also emphasized the importance of responsible internet use, advising the young participants to keep their parents informed about their online activities and use their newfound knowledge positively.

Parents were not left out of this guidance, as they were urged to monitor their children’s internet usage and ensure it remained a positive experience.

Mr. Garba Ya’u, the Director of NCAIR, urged the children to apply their newfound knowledge creatively.Two enthusiastic participants, Brown Zowe and Elizabeth Bassey, attested to the program’s effectiveness in enhancing their robotics and drone operation skills, expressing gratitude to NITDA for this valuable opportunity.

Awards were presented to recognize the outstanding achievements of deserving children who excelled during the training.

This initiative unfolded simultaneously across multiple locations, including Jigawa State in the North West, Port-Harcourt in the South South zone, and Abuja in the North Central region, furthering NITDA’s commitment to digital inclusivity and education.

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In felicitation of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award conferred by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR on the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has congratulated the Agency for its outstanding performance so far and deliberated on key areas of collaboration.
The Director General of NITDA Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE.

, while receiving delegates from the society led by its National President, Professor Adesina Sodiya at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja said that the Agency is willing to collaborate more with the society.

Asserting the unwavering commitment of NITDA to collaborate in the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) through the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024), the DG said “we have an ambitious target of making Nigeria a start-up nation and to train 1 million programmers between this year and next year and to achieve 95 percent digital literacy in Nigeria by the year 2030.
Inuwa said, “we believe we cannot succeed in isolation that is why we collaborate with organizations like yours”.

The DG informed that he had earlier received delegates from the FCT chapter of the society who are ready to collaborate with NITDA in the areas of participating in NITDA Policy Framework Development, providing inputs in the NITDA Legal framework, and participating in other areas that may be required from time to time.
He applauded the initiatives brought to the fore by the Society and encouraged them to key into the activities of the Agency that are similar to its initiatives, while assuring them of the Agency’s willingness to collaborate and render support where necessary.

These initiatives are Techies Hangout Initiative (THI), an event (online, physical, TV, Radio) series where Information Technology (IT) experts discuss trending and prospective IT business and youth developments for the national economy, bringing to the table, research and actionable efforts being put together in resolving the issues.

It will also feature startup mentoring and collaborative development through sponsorship sourcing; the Computer-4-Schools Initiative (C4SI), an initiative aimed at sourcing and distributing computers and other IT tools to public secondary schools in the FCT and its environs to build their skills in technology in the early stages; Directors and Head ICT (D/HICT) Conference, a two-day conference to engage Head of MDAs, Directors of ICT Departments/Units and private sector to discuss related issues around ICT development in public and private spheres.
Inuwa stated that the rulemaking process regulation of NITDA allows organizations to participate in the development and also come up with regulations, standards, guidelines, and frameworks for consideration by the Agency.

The NCS President appreciated the Agency for its support for the society and presented a “Proud Ambassador” Award to the DG for his outstanding leadership.
“We are here as a society to continue to support what you are is doing in order to promote and develop IT in Nigeria. To congratulate the DG on the National Productivity Award bestowed on the Agency. To invite the DG to the NCS building and to inspect what NITDA has been supporting. To invite DG to their conference.”

“We will improve on our synergy with you so that we can do more together,” he said.

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NEWS DIGEST – As cyber criminals use COVID19 as an opportunity to defraud suspecting Nigerians, the Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, said that securing Nigeria’s cyberspace is a prerequisite to achieving Digital Economy Policy.

Abdullahi stated this at the webinar organised by the agency in collaboration with Spire Solutioons on ‘Cyber Hygiene During and After COVID-19.’

The DG, who was represented by by Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solution, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, said that due to the pandemic and the quest for survival people and entities have been forced to adapt new possibilities especially internet for their daily activities.

Reeling out statistics, Mr Abdullahi explained that data collected by Google reflected a spike in phishing emails from the commencement of the lockdown.

He said in January, Google recorded approximately 149,000 phishing websites, which has increased to 552,000 recently, an increasing ofabout 350% since January.

“The boom in the use of virtual platforms and increase in online activities by individuals, government and businesses led to an exponential increase in cybercrime incidences.

“To survive the antics of cyber criminals during and post COVID-19 pandemic, there is need for strategy. We need to strategize. One of these strategies is to acquire knowledge on how to stay safe in the cyberspace,” he said.

Abdullahi assured that his agency will be engaging security experts from both private and public institutions to rob minds on effective ways of securing Nigeria cyberspace.

He emphasised that NITDA, as an agency of Government with the responsibility of ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace, will live up to expectations by providing Nigerians with advisory notes on these incidences. “We carry out periodic awareness programs to enlighten Nigerians on the dos and don’ts in the cyber space,” he concluded.

The Lead, Computer Response Team,Dr Mohammed Lawan Ahmed, during his presentation on the “Dos and Don’ts” to fight COVID-19 related cybercrimes in Nigeria mentioned that criminals take advantage of the demand for protective materials like gloves, masks and sanitizers to get people to click on a link under the guise of getting them free of charge or qualifying for palliatives that doesn’t exist.

He advised members of the public not to be quick to click links, visit websites or give out personal information without confirming its source and authenticity.

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NEWS DIGEST – The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has called on financial institutions in the country to increase lending access for Small and Medium Enterprises especially Startups in the Financial Technology (FinTech) ecosystem in order to promote financial inclusiveness in the country.

Mallam Abdullahi disclosed this in a Webinar organized by the FinTech Association of Nigeria with the theme: “COVID-19: Enabling Speedy Business and Economic Recovery Through Regulations.”

He stated that traditional banks’ lending process has long been a barrier to assessing finance for SMEs in Nigeria which is negatively impacting the operations of the SMEs, adding that the banks need to come up with innovative ideas to assist vulnerable SMEs in the era of COVID-19 that is plaguing the world.

He said, “the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted SMEs around the world, Nigeria inclusive. The traditional bank lending process has long been a barrier to accessing finance for SMEs in Nigeria.”

He, however, informed that the government is providing different types of interventions and palliatives but Financial Technology is not being employed optimally for disbursement. Adding that, “our interventions are to help lead the tech startups from crisis to recovery as well as support them to navigate today’s challenging business landscape.”

While reiterating the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to lift 100 million Nigeria out of poverty in 10 years, Mallam Abdullahi expressed optimism that the government would support investment in startups to create jobs and future prosperity for all.

He explained that NITDA as an Information Technology regulator in the country with twin mandates to regulate and develop the sector, had designed initiatives meant to provide a secure base for startup ecosystem with the inclusion of FinTech startups. He said, immediately the government pronounced the lockdown, NITDA constituted a 10-man committee named Tech4Covid with objectives to identify innovative solutions to address the pandemic; provide enabling policies and incentives to cushion the impact of the pandemic; and build massive digital skills to reskill the region to leverage technology in different sectors.

On funding for the innovative ideas of the startups, the NITDA DG recalled that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has directed all parastatals under the supervision of the ministry to set up an Innovation Research Fund for the startups, and NITDA is equally working with Bank of Industry, BOI, to give consideration to I T startups in accessing funding.

The DG further stated that the Agency is also supporting the IT hubs in the country by implementing the recommendations submitted by Tech4Covid committee on hubs’ support during and after the pandemic and had also developed innovation porter that would serve as a database for innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

He listed some of the policies the government has put in place to assist the startups to include the National Outsourcing Strategic policy, Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, Reviewing of Framework, and Guideline for the Use of Digital Platform by Federal Public Institutions, and the National Cyber Security Policy.

Another Speaker at the webinar and Chairman, Africa FinTech Network, Mr. Segun Aina, described the agency as a great pillar of support which has been reliable in providing fund for FinTech in Nigeria. He said, “although most of the funding comes from outside the country regulatory agencies like NITDA have been very helpful in assisting the FinTech industry.

He said that the Association is embarking on advocacy and support for the startups in 32 African countries and assisting them to access funding from organizations like African Development Bank.

Another speaker, Mr. Sopnendu Moharty, in his own remarks maintained that African need to prioritize the new normal by believing that “COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to rethink.
He said, for the economy to survive the pandemic, there is a need for people to leverage IT. “We need to digitize everything and you can’t argue with the fact that if you don’t digitize you will die,” he concluded.

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