In a move to ensure Nigeria Payments System gets more global recognition and is domestically utilised across the country, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has restated the need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Financial Institutions in the country to collaborate with the Agency in order to leverage emerging technologies such as Artificial intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics to deepen digital payments.

Inuwa made this known during a panel discussion segment at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2023 Payments System Management Departmental Retreat programme.

The DG who was represented at the event by the National Director, National Centre for Artificial intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Engr Ya’u Garba, alluded to the fact that financial technology (FinTech) has so far shown immense ability in driving Nigeria’s performance in the industry and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), especially with the application of developmental regulation approach and enabling policies co-created by the tech ecosystem.

According to him, deepening collaborations with key stakeholders will fast track the realisation of the goal, adding that upping the game in digital payments will not only continue to put Nigeria at the forefront as Fintech driven economy but will also enhance consumers’ user experience and help move many people out of poverty.

Responding to questions regarding Nigeria’s efforts toward dealing with the opportunities and threats possed by Artificial intelligence, Inuwa explained that the Federal Government haven noticed that the trajectory of AI models which have moved from linearly to geometrical in proportions had in the previous administration, started working on Artificial intelligence Policy through the Agency which he said would be soon unveiled to the public.

“This AI Policy will form the basis on which all the rules will be highlighted and Agencies like NITDA, which is the implementation arm will be talking about the strategies, framework and guidelines to navigate through its adoption and deployment”.

“Although artificial intelligence is often regarded as a double edged sword, the potential and benefits are tangible but not without a lot of threats, and that is apart from the biases that abound, notwithstanding, our regulatory approach has always been not to stifle innovation.”, Inuwa noted.

Inuwa who also mentioned other policies of the Federal Government for the industry, maintained that the policies are start-up ecosystem- friendly.

While avowing that there is the need for measures to be deliberately taken to reap the benefits and forestall the impending threats of AI, Inuwa emphasised that NITDA will be working collaboratively with CBN as with others, in regulating the AI space, stressing that if CBN adopts a particular technology, the potential of such tech to move quickly is high.

The NITDA boss told the audience that the Start-up Bill which was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022 will address almost, if not all the bottlenecks plaguing the tech ecosystem.

The Fintech industry, according to Inuwa, is blazing the trail, but said there are a lot more to be tapped from, if AI is explored and exploited accordingly.

He went further to stress that government needs to work with the United Nations, World Bank and others to see how they can help build the infrastructure for FinTech, in order to foster digital payments and possibly close the digital gap.

“The Startup Act is deemed to be a positive step forward for the country’s startup ecosystem, and it is expected to have a significant impact on businesses in the technology and innovation space”.

“We have other policies tailored towards the bigger picture, like the 3MTT programme by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy which is expected to generate a pipeline of technical talent in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of creating 2 million digital jobs by 2025, National Broadband Plan, Digital Identity Policy and the National Financial Policy which drive the financial inclusion in the country,” Inuwa affirmed.

Earlier, while welcoming guests, the Director, Payments System Management Department, CBN, Musa Jimoh harped on the need to look into the future and embrace things that are contemporary to Nigeria and the world at large and ensure that all the thinking behind Payments system should be hinged on how it can benefit the common man on the street.

“Everything we do in Central Bank of Nigeria, if it cannot benefit the common man on the street, then we have done nothing because the payments system is not for us but for the public good, especially as everybody uses it.

“As such, our thinking should always be what can we do to ease the pain, reduce cost, serve and make things more efficient and available to the common man on the street and indeed to all Nigerians, whether in the country or in the diaspora”, Musa sued.

The Retreat of Payments System Management Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria brought together payments industry experts and stimulated discussions around innovations in the Payments System space.

The retreat had as its main theme: “Future of Payments System: Opportunities, threats and propositions.

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TECHDIGEST – In a bold move towards shaping the future of technology, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE has said that NITDA has an ambitious vision to produce a thriving community of artificial intelligence (AI) developers in the country.

Inuwa revealed this while receiving instructors and some beneficiaries of NITDA AI Developers Training (NAIDT) who were on a thank-you visit to the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja to present to him an award for his outstanding dedication and immense support for the training project.

The training organised by NITDA, through National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), in conjunction with Google Developers Group (GDG), has created instructors, startups, and secured job opportunities for participants. The programme recorded 1227 beneficiaries across 10 Cohorts that undergone series of coaching and lectures to develop programming skills in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Inuwa noted that the Agency has achieved what it set out to do during the pilot project in Abuja, and will be extended to other states. According to him, the vision is to create a community of developers around the country where people can come and learn, and after that, they can teach others or start their businesses and impact society.

“I believe we can start with three states this year, then strategize on how we can take it to other states; with time, extend it to local governments. because This is driven by my firm belief that in Nigeria, our most valuable asset as a nation is our human capital.”

“I want to know how many people participated, and how many females, to ensure gender balance, and I want to know who and who have started businesses from this training and who and who are making money.

“This will help us to mentor others because the idea is not just to train people but after training, to connect them with jobs or to inspire and mentor them to start their own businesses.”

He added that the NAIDT platform can be used to create indigenous super apps like generative AI and language modelling, then a Proof-of-Concept (POC), can be done with NITDA and then escalated government-wide.

“This is because the government is also pushing for digitisation. Digitising government services will help the government save a lot of costs as well as improve the efficiency of service delivery.”

READ ALSO: Nigeria Aims to Surpass India’s $150 billion Annual Outsourcing Earnings – NITDA Boss 

In his earlier remarks, Engr. Ya’u Garba, the National Director of NCAIR, conveyed that the project originated from a directive by the DG a year ago. The directive was to initiate the training of one million developers under the theme: Learn, Teach, and Earn. He further noted that the DG has generously provided honorariums on a monthly basis to each cohort participating in the program.

Engr. Garba revealed that there were three levels of training: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

He said, “In the basics, we teach them what is necessary to become a good programmer, so we teach them Python; of course, you know Python is the language science. After that, most of them come back for the intermediate, where they are equipped with the necessary skills to start their journey in the IT world. Then we have the advance, which is problem-based for people that want to move forward.”

A representative of the Google Developers Group (GDG), Mr Ibrahim Bright Muhammed, appreciated the DG and NITDA for their unwavering support throughout the training programme, adding that “the environment is very conducive, with very good internet.”

The beneficiaries who shared their experiences expressed gratitude to NITDA for the valuable opportunity that has greatly enriched their lives through the programme.

Among them, a number have transitioned from being trainees to becoming trainers themselves. This shift not only instills a sense of achievement in them but also provides them with the satisfaction of witnessing those they’ve mentored effectively applying the knowledge they were imparted.

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 By Mubarak Umar

TECHDIGEST – Nigeria’s participation at GITEX Africa, held in Morocco from 31st May to 2nd June 2023, has been nothing short of phenomenal, leaving a lasting impression on attendees from around the world. The outing provided a glimpse into the country’s vibrant tech innovation ecosystem which has been thriving in recent years.

GITEX Africa, brought together industry leaders, innovators, investors, and policymakers to explore the latest advancements in technology and digital transformation across the continent. Nigeria, known for its thriving tech ecosystem, participated in the event with a strong delegation, showcasing the country’s innovative startups, its commitment to digital transformation and digital literacy.

Nigeria’s participation aims at attracting investment and foster partnerships with global stakeholders. The country’s delegation focused on showcasing the country’s innovative startups, which have been making waves in various sectors, including fintech, healthtech, proptech agritech, and e-commerce. These startups are at the forefront of Nigeria’s digital revolution, bringing cutting-edge solutions to pressing challenges and contributing to the country’s economic growth.

The Nigerian startups’ ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit captivated investors and industry experts at GITEX Africa. Their ability to identify pressing challenges and develop innovative solutions not only showcases Nigeria’s potential but also highlights the vast opportunities available for investors seeking to tap into the country’s vibrant tech ecosystem. Nigeria’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for startups, including regulatory reforms and investment incentives, further enhances its appeal as an investment destination.

Beyond the startup showcase, Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts were part of the discussion at the event.

In his numerous engagements, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, who was represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, stressed the importance of collaboration between governments, industry and academia including the entrepreneurs and venture capitalist in order to accelerate digital transformation in Africa.

He called on African countries to work together to develop common standards and regulations for the digital economy with a focus on a single digital market for Africa and to promote the adoption of digital technologies across all sectors of the economy.

Inuwa also said outlined how Nigeria is investing heavily in digital skills development, with a number of initiatives aimed at training young people in the latest digital technologies.

He listed various initiatives undertaken by NITDA, such as National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NITDA), National Adopted School for Smart Education, Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support (TIES) Scheme, and Digital Literacy Programmes among others, to promote digital economy in Nigeria.

Inuwa further expressed Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating the secretariat of the Smart African Alliance and the Council of African Information and Technology Agencies (CAITA) and other African nations to collectively address challenges and explore opportunities in the digital realm, while emphasising the need for increased investment in research and development, capacity building, and policy harmonisation to foster a vibrant and inclusive digital ecosystem across the African continent.

Engr Ya’u Garba, National Director of Nigeria’s National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), delivered a compelling presentation on AI and its impact on various industries.

Garba highlighted Nigeria’s progress in AI research and development and emphasised the country’s potential to become a leader in AI innovation.

He discussed the application of AI in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, transportation, and education, and how AI-driven solutions can address critical challenges and improve efficiency.

The Special Assistant to Director General of NITDA on Strategy and Innovation , Mrs Iklima Musa also spoke on Nigeria’s efforts to bridge the digital divide and enhance digital skills among its citizens.

Musa emphasised the importance of digital literacy in driving inclusive growth and empowering individuals with the necessary skills for the digital age.

READ ALSO: NITDA Boss Advocates Pan-African Collaboration to Drive Digital Empowerment 

She highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Nigerian government and various organisations to provide digital training and capacity building programmes, ensuring that all Nigerians have the opportunity to participate in the digital economy.

Sixty-seven (67) Nigerian startups participated at the inaugural edition of GITEX Africa, which reaffirmed the country’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, and provided a platform for them to exhibit their cutting-edge ideas, gain invaluable exposure from the global tech community, and attract potential investments that will catalyze Nigeria’s digital economy.

As the curtains of GITEX Africa was about to close, Nigerian startup, Nearpays Technology Limited emerged best in the Fintech and Blockchain category of the Supernova Challenge, and was awarded a cash prize of 10,000 US Dollars and free all-expenses trip to GITEX Global that will be hosted by the Dubai World Trade Center in the United Arab Emirates, in October, 2023.

Nearpays, co-founded by Victor Daniyan, is a full-service financial payment platform that acts as an end-to-end financial service for clients. It has various features to simplify online payments as much as possible, based on the principle that payments should be seamless. It also offers a wide range of services including personal and corporate banking, virtual debit cards, and online banking.

The participation of Nigeria at GITEX Africa has not only raised the country’s profile but also reinforced its position as a key player in the global tech ecosystem.

By embracing innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and actively promoting digital transformation, Nigeria has laid a strong foundation for sustainable growth and development.

Nigeria invites investors, visionaries, and tech enthusiasts from around the world to join in its transformative journey. The opportunities for collaboration and investment in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem are immense, and the time to seize them is now.

The post GITEX Africa And Nigeria’s Phenomenal Display Of Innovation  appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – In a bid to proactively facilitate the development of Nigeria into a sustainable digital economy and fast track the creation of an enabling environment where Nigerians can develop, adopt and derive value from digital technology, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has given a nod to the partnership proposal by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen.Yushau Dogara Ahmed.

Inuwa who expressed the Agency’s willingness to collaborate with the Corps during a courtesy call by the team, reiterated the fact that NITDA being the bedrock in scaling awareness and adoption of Emerging Technologies will be more than willing to go the extra mile in fine-tuning the already existing collaboration towards moving the nation forward.

“We are looking at positioning Nigeria to become the global talent factory and to do that, your agency is critical because all graduates pass through your Organisation”.

“If we can collaborate, we can use that one year they would spend serving the nation to change their lives”, the DG noted.

While stating that the fastest way to make the country join the league of developed nations would not be through the traditional way adopted by Asian countries for which they spent nothing less than fifty years to attain the status they are today, Inuwa said Nigeria would have to be creative in its industrialisation quest.

The DG said that the shortcut to upping the ante remains the talent route, stressing that more that 55% of the country’s GDP is based on Services.
He further explained that “there is a global talent shortage and if Nigeria can position itself by training people and conveniently providing 2 Million developers in two years it can earn about $40B from the pool of 2Million developers, which will invariably also help address the Agency’s remittance challenge as well.

“Looking at the fact that Nigeria can be the talent hub of the world, given its competitive advantage to close the gap, we have identified your Organization as a key partner, if we must achieve the projections”, Inuwa affirmed.

Inuwa told his guests that the Agency had since started implementing some of the initiatives, like training One Million Developers in 2022 which some of the Youth Corps Members were beneficiaries.

“I am hoping that our collaboration will not only bring young Nigerians together to be trained on how to build mobile applications and systems but will also connect them to opportunities”.

“We are strategising on how to expand the training to other States as we plan to pilot it in the six geopolitical zones but if we can work together with you, it will much easier for us to get the talents because you have graduates”, the Director-General avowed

According to the NITDA Boss, a total of about One Hundred and Twenty-four youths are trained and graduated every month from the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, adding that, although this is the basic training, there are other categories, including intermediary and advance.

He assured the team from the NYSC that NITDA is interested in going beyond granting their request by collaborating to ensure that interested Corp Members are trained to become advance developers.

The National Director, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Engr Ya’u Garba took the visiting team through the workings and prospects of the Centre as he highlighted the different programmes intended to scale awareness and adoption of Emerging Technologies.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen.Yushau Dogara Ahmed in his brief said the purpose of the courtesy call was to appreciate NITDA’s performance generally and the existing collaboration between the Corp and the Agency over the years which he noted have been laudable, especially with the provision of Digital Economy Centres at NYSC Camps across some states.

Ahmed said the gesture has gone a long way in providing Information Technology (IT) support to the Organisation’s State Secretariat and the Scheme in general.

“I want to use this opportunity to solicit for NITDA’s support in assisting NYSC with some Information Technology (IT) equipment for the smooth take off our our newly constructed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre in our National Directorate Headquarters”, Ahmed said.

According to the NYSC DG, the Corp has had an ICT Centre at Area 1, Garki, Abuja but it became necessary to erect a bigger ICT Centre which he added stands at 90% completion.

Ahmed assured DG NITDA and his management team that NYSC as a Scheme will continue to support the Agency in its set target of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030.

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TECHDIGEST – In alignment with the global best practices through the implementation of the present administration’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has trained teeming youths on Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).

As technology is getting increasingly accessible to everyone all over the world, Emerging Technologies such as VR and AR have ousted traditional processes by significantly enhancing the interaction between the physical and digital worlds to ease the way of doing things and making life more comfortable.

The NITDA’s Director General Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE while addressing the graduating participants at the closing ceremony of the five day capacity building programme, admonished them to astutely apply the skills learnt in their various fields.

While congratulating them on the successful completion of the programme, Inuwa, who was represented by the Agency’s Acting Director, Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department, Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji expressed his excitement at the initiative intended to aspire Nigerian youths in exploring all areas of technology.

Driven by the increase in demand for AR and VR technology globally which is exponentially increasing the market value of the technology, Inuwa noted that there are lots of opportunities that can be leveraged on and it was imperative to build capacities of youths in the field to exploit all opportunities the industry could offer.

“You can use these skills to become entrepreneurs by identifying problems and come up with innovative driven enterprises to solve them; use what you have learnt here to create applications to solve problems so that you can also make business and money out of your knowledge,” he stated.

While encouraging the fresh graduates to build on their newly acquired knowledge and skills exposed to during the programme, he advised them to explore other Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) to increase their proficiencies.

“In addition to what you have learnt here, I want you to visit the NITDA Academy and other online courses so that you can create powerful social media handles for yourselves and apply for global digital jobs from anywhere you are,” he concluded.

READ ALSO: NCC Sets To Issue Two More 5G Licences

Giving his remarks earlier, the National Director, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), a subsidiary of NITDA, Engr. Garba Ya’u appreciated the passion of the Director General in creating capacity for Nigerian youths in areas of Emerging Technologies.

Stressing the importance of VR and AR, Engr. Ya’u stated that the importance of the training cannot be over emphasised due to the numerous potentials it possesses in all areas which range from medicine, engineering and architecture amongst others.

“It is a privilege for you to have this training and I hope you will build on it and do more in this area”, he concluded.

At the end of the programme, all participants were presented with Virtual Reality Headsets and Certificates.

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By Abbas Badmus

TECHDIGEST – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has trained 859 kids on Coding in Abuja, Lagos and Kano States.

NITDA at the end of the training urged the kids to develop indigenous Coding languages, and games with African features and values.

The Director-General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa gave the advice on Saturday at the agency’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Bootcamp for Kids’ Award and closing ceremony in Abuja.

The bootcamp was organized by NITDA’s subsidiary, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR).

He explained that computers, which included mobile phones were taking over jobs through the languages of Coding that were categorised into narrow artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence and super intelligence.

Inuwa told the kids, “we need more people that can code because that is the future of work and it is important that you develop interest and build a career in coding.

“Very few of the elites around the world control what we see,read and believe and you being part of them can change things.

“This is a golden opportunity to start coding early in life,you need to become an exceptional person by having initiatives that solve problems.

“We want to see games with African characters, games that uphold our values and cultures; educational games and many more,” Inuwa said.

According to the DG,” you can also develop games,play them and make money out of them.”

He said that with a global population of about 7.7 billion, only a little percentage could code, whereas there were over 14 billion devices, computers, hence positioning computers at the centre of human lives.

Mr kashifu encouraged the kids to practise more because making use of the computer has become a liberal act.

National Director of NCAIR, Yau Garba said the bootcamp held in Abuja, Lagos and Kano with 859 kids that participated in the programme.

Garba commended the children for their resilience towards the passion to learn coding and their parents for commitment to availing their wards.

Master Aliyu Usman, one of the participants, commended NITDA for the knowledge they had acquired.

READ ALSO: NITDA, Amazon To Collaborate On Digital Services For Local Operators

Usman said that he had been inspired be able to teach other children around him what he learnt.

Princess Teniola,one of the winners of the bootcamp was happy she participated in the programme, adding that the training had broadened her mind to understand computer more.

The event held from from Aug. 31 to Sept. 10 and had activities like Artificial Intelligence, Coding, Digital Communication, Robotics and Drones, Embedded Systems and Internet of Things, Virtual Reality and 3D Printing.

The age range for the bootcamp was from eight to eleven years for the first batch and 12 to 16 years for the second batch.

The winners of the bootcamp were rewarded with laptops and demo kits, while 859 children were trained. There was also a demonstration tour of computer programmes designed by the participants.

The post SB4kids : NITDA Trains 859 Kids on Emerging Technologies appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE has encouraged the finalists of 2022 Yvote Naija Civic Tech Hackathon to channel their ingenuity into developing innovative solutions that will strengthen citizens’ participation in the electoral process and help deepen Nigeria’s democratic experience.

Inuwa, represented by the National Director, National Centre for Artificial intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Engr. Ya’u Garba, said this while delivering a Keynote Address at the Grand finale of the event in Abuja.

The DG emphatically stated the need to explore innovative civic-tech solutions to address persistent concerns of vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence.

“As the 2023 general elections approach, the importance of this Civic Tech Hackathon cannot be over emphasized because citizens’ participation in the electoral process is an indispensable pillar of democracy and good governance.

“Participation mechanisms provide the government with regular feedback for developing policies and designing decisions processes that promote democratic ethos and with our general elections around the corner, Nigeria needs programmes like this Civic Tech Hackathon to help bolster inclusive and accountable decision-making, equitable civic participation and voice, effective public service delivery and government responsibility”, Inuwa avowed.

According to him, the outcome of the grand finale would further bring to fore, the value that technology brings to the electoral process.

“Technological innovations have revolutionized and transformed the way we live, work, and interact with people near and far. In the process, technology is helping us to constantly evolve and achieve more to make the world a better place for all across the social, economic, and political realms”, he affirmed.

Inuwa added that introduction of technology into the electoral process is generating both interest and concern among voters, as well as practitioners, across the globe.

He however stressed that most electoral management bodies around the world are adopting new technologies like Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing amongst others, to improve the different stages of their electoral process, before, during, and after the elections.

“In order to guarantee efficiency and improve confidence in their electoral systems, many countries are increasingly looking in the direction of digital technology as essential to the conduct of credible elections and enhancement of political transparency”.

“Digital technology has been deployed across the process from voter registration, voter accreditation, the casting of a ballot, collation/counting of votes, transmission, and publication of the results. This has resulted in increased participation among voters and made elections more inclusive for voters across every segment of the population, especially people living with disabilities. Other applications of digital technologies also include the compilation of voter lists, demarcation of electoral boundaries, and conducting voter education campaigns”, he said.

While saluting the courage and determination of the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), Yvote Naija, and Christian Aid for the initiative to discover lasting solutions to prevailing challenges in the electoral system and ensure the active participation of Nigerians in the process, Inuwa expressed optimism that at the end of the event, there shall be emergence of innovative civic-tech solutions to eliminate the irregularities and fraudulent practices that have been the bane of Nigeria’s electoral processes.

He added that NITDA is committed to entrenching technology and innovation as critical tools for the successful implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), and the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (2021 – 2024) toward growing the nation’s prosperity.

“Through the continued support of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), the Agency has initiated and organized numerous hackathons and competitions to support more indigenous innovators and entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions for solving our local problems. Thus, it has been using these programmes as platforms to encourage talented young Nigerians to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions”, Inuwa stressed.

He further notified the audience that NITDA has taken strides to roll out several programmes and initiatives in partnership with international and local agencies and development organizations to foster creative and innovative ideas within Nigeria’s teeming youth.

“Such programmes include the Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria program, which is a sponsored collaboration between NITDA and MassChallenge (a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators based in the US), and iHatch incubation program which is a partnership with Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).”

“We have equally launched the FabLab, first of its kind in Nigeria, within the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) to provide the required support and facilities for our teeming innovators to be able to prototype and commercialise their ideas. The Nigerian Government remains relentless in its commitment to sustaining the enabling environment to entrench innovation hence NITDA established two key subsidiaries – the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) through which the Agency implements programmes and initiatives to inspire innovation among the youth while also strengthening the ecosystem”.

READ ALSO: Pantami Confirms Irregularities on IPPIS, Vows Review

Inuwa explained that the subsidiaries are adapting activities to focus on strengthening the innovation ecosystem through collaboration, supporting innovation by promoting the adoption of emerging technologies for sustainable development, digital job creation, and promoting indigenous content development.

He congratulated the finalists for having come thus far in the hackathon and assured that NITDA alongside its subsidiaries and the overwhelming support Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, is ready, willing, and able to work with like-minded organisations to expand the frontiers of result-oriented digital solutions for good governance and national development.
“Whatever the outcome at the end of the day, you are all winners in the race for entrenching efficiency, reliability, and credible elections”, Inuwa assured.

Earlier, the Executive Director of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, Olasupo Abideen in his welcome address noted that at the end of the pitch, the team with the most promising solution will be awarded 2 million naira to execute their proposed solution.

The cash prizes, Abideen said will be disbursed at every project milestone in order to ensure the funds are utilized effectively.

“As for the first and second runners-up, we have support from NITDA to mentor, incubate and fund their respective solutions. To make the game a win-win for all, we are looking at merging the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th positions with the first three if that will bring a stellar result. We are doing this in the sole interest of the country; therefore, everyone is a winner as long as we achieve our common goal”, he added.

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TECHDIGEST – In its commitment to implement the Strategic RoadMap and Action Plan SRAP 2021-2024, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has identified Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a pillar in the SRAP document, as one of the driving forces to place Nigeria as a key entrepreneurial country in Africa, and that will become the basis of collaboration between NITDA and Baze University.

Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of NITDA, made this assertion at the 1st Baze University’s ‘Information Technology, Research, and Innovation week’ in Abuja.

Inuwa stated that NITDA is putting a lot of efforts and resources in ensuring that the bulk of graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions are focused on creating jobs rather than seeking for jobs.

The NITDA boss who was represented by Engineer Yau Garba, the national director of National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, NCAIR, affirmed that the Agency, being the IT regulator in the country, and through the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, is working with startups as key contributors to developing an entrepreneur economy.

Mallam Inuwa noted major subsidiaries of NITDA that cater for entrepreneurial activities are the Office for IT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) and the Office for Nigerian Content (ONC) which were merged to become Office for Nigerian Digital and Innovation (ONDI).

“We also have the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, whose core mandate is to conduct Research and Development in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence AI, Drones, Block Chain, Internet of things IoT, etc,” he said.

He added that other activities of the Centre focuses on Capacity Building and Partnerships with relevant Agencies and Universities in areas of national interest that challenge the nation.

Referring to the topic of the session “Challenges and Opportunities of Entrepreneurship Startups”, Inuwa mentioned that the Agency deals with companies that have global impact to solve challenges and create entrepreneur opportunities.

“While the focus is not about profiting”, he explained that ventures like Risk Capitalists and Angel Investors promote businesses that produces substantial number of jobs such as Uber, Jumia and the Nigerian unicorns like Flutterwave and Paystack needs to be replicated as much as possible to ensure a digital economy,” he added.

Inuwa mentioned that the Agency has the support of some international organizations like Japan International Cooperation Agency on new models for incubation and acceleration programmes.

“We have a project called Hives. The idea is to build Centres within the Universities to support students’ and the lecturers’ learning and research development”, he said.

He further noted that the Centre would be based on practical and not the usual courses on entrepreneurship to ensure the promotion of true entrepreneurial activities right from the University towards industrialization.

He charged the students to look forward to being a force in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, adding that “Nigeria must not be left behind, hence, the reason we are looking forward to collaborating with Baze University in search of people who are willing to take risks and scale their ideas to provide jobs and create innovations that would make the world a better place”.

The post NITDA to partner with Baze University on innovation, entrepreneurship appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – In another giant step towards addressing security challenges bedeviling the country, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, through its National Center for Artificial Intelligence Robotics and Robotics, NCAIR, is to collaborate with the Nigeria security operatives in the manufacture of locally made military equipments to tackle insecurity.

The initiative was to provide first hand intelligence gathering to the Nation’s security architecture using technology and digital driven methods aimed at bringing an end to the incessant security threats in the country.

Director, National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Engr. Ya’u Garba Isa disclosed this when he received the Rector Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology, NACEST, Markudi, Benue State, Brigadier General Yahaya H Abdulhamid at his office.

Engr Garba, while welcoming his guests said, NCAIR is among NITDA’s key drivers, established primarily to promote research and development on emerging technologies and their practical application in areas of national interest.

He said; “collaboration with the military will open huge opportunity for the Center explore manufacturing of locally made military hardwares that will be used in fighting criminal elements”.

Garba informed his audience that, NCAIR as digital innovation and research facility, is focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and Drones, Internet of Things (IOT) and other emerging technologies that can be deployed to a mission area so as to provide intelligence report which, he said, can be manufactured at a low cost.

He added that, the Center is also looking into the possibility of producing what they termed as ‘Digital Grenade’ that can be use with ‘Wireless Censored Network’ which will be utilize in detecting some vital information in the field during operations.

“NCAIR focuses on creating a thriving ecosystem for innovation driven entrepreneurship IDE, job creation and national development”, he explained.
Garba then assured the management of the Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology of his office’s unflinching support towards the realization of the mutual collaboration that will bring about a suitable environment for discovery and harnessing the abundant creative ideas of Nigeria’s teeming youth through the promotion of innovative technologies.

Earlier, the Rector of the College, Brigadier General Yahaya H Abdulhamid, said the idea to partner with the National Information Technology Development Agency was borne out of observing the serious impact the Agency have been making to Nigerians in areas of Emerging Technologies.
NITDA, as the nation’s apex IT regulatory body, is capable of enhancing the ability of the students of the Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology in areas of Innovation, Digital Literacy and Skills Acquisition of modern technology.

He emphasized that his students are eager to learn various innovative ideas so as to align with the present reality for the overall development of the country.

Brigadier General Abdulhamid described innovation as key to the attainment of any meaningful development. He called on NCAIR to fast track the process of incorporating NACEST into its plan.

“These are the things that you must embrace in order to achieve national security and development, as it is not an adventurous thing, but rather a must”, he submitted.

The visiting Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology, NACEST, entourage was conducted round the NCAIRs innovation laboratory, a make space and fabrication laboratory (FabLab) 3D Printer and Printed Circuit facilities.

Mansour Aliyu Hassan
NITDA

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