TECHDIGEST – As part of measures toward strengthening the nation’s Digital Economy, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has inaugurated the Technical Working Committee (TWC) on the implementation of the National Data Strategy (NDS).

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr William Alo who formally inaugurated the Committee noted that the National Data Strategy which was developed by the National Data Technical Working Group, comprising experts from various sectors of the economy to address the critical role of data utilisation in Nigeria also aims to harness the power of data to drive innovation, economic growth, and social development throughout the country.

While inaugurating the Committee, Dr Alo stressed that “The government recognises the significance of data access, ethical and responsible data usage, data privacy, data protection and data governance in ensuring the well-being and privacy of citizens while promoting innovation. We must collaborate across sectors, engage stakeholders and ensure that every voice is heard to harness the full potential of data.”

According to the Perm Sec, “the NDS roadmap will guide Nigeria in leveraging data to identify new opportunities, optimise existing processes and make informed decisions that accelerate economic growth.

He expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the “Renewed Hope” agenda and his vision for a data-driven Nigeria.

Dr. Alo commended Participants for their dedication and expertise which he described as the eventual driving force behind the successful implementation of the Nigeria Data Strategy.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Harnessing Digital Economy Potential with Data Strategy – NITDA DG

The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, while presenting a keynote address said the strategy, which was launched this year, aims to harness the power of data to stimulate economic growth, innovation, and inclusivity in the country.

Inuwa while emphasising the strategic importance of data in driving the digital economy, made reference to some figures from the World Economic Forum and Statistics, where he highlighted the substantial value of the data driven economy as currently estimated to be over $3 trillion and projected to reach $5 trillion in the future.

“The digital economy is worth more than $16 trillion, and digitally transformed enterprises contributed $13.5 trillion to the global GDP in 2018. This year, it is projected to contribute a staggering $53.5 trillion, accounting for over 50% of the global GDP,” Inuwa said.

He maintained that the National Data Strategy revolves around seven key pillars that are crucial to Nigeria’s successful transition to a digital economy, which he enumerated to include Data Literacy and Skills, Data Security and Privacy, Data Sovereignty, Data Infrastructure, Data Harmonisation, Data Usability, Inclusivity and Accessibility.

Inuwa who further emphasised that data is the currency of the digital economy, urged the Technical Working Group to provide productive recommendations that will help regulatory agencies to effectively implement the strategy.

The event also featured presentation on the expectations and deliverables of the workshop, TWC Terms of Reference, Breakout and Plenary Sessions.

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TECHDIGEST- In a bid to harness the vast potential of the digital economy, Nigeria has inaugurated its Technical Working Group, TWG, on the implementation of National Data Strategy, NDS.

This is aimed at creating wealth and prosperity through the effective use of data.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Mal. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), highlighted the significance of data in the digital economy, comparing it to the “oil” that fuels growth and innovation.

The National Data Strategy represents Nigeria’s commitment to harnessing the potential of the digital economy through effective data management and utilization.

With a focus on data literacy, security, sovereignty, infrastructure, harmonization, and usability, the strategy sets the stage for Nigeria to create wealth and prosperity in the digital era.

He emphasized the need for Nigerian citizens to be data-literate and possess the necessary skills to leverage data for economic and social purposes.

The NITDA helmsman, who noted that data is the most valuable resource in today’s digital landscape, said the TWG will determine the best approach to data localization and transfer.

His words: “The increasing digitization of the world necessitates online availability of data, as systems reliant on artificial intelligence require comprehensive information to make informed decisions”.

According to Inuwa Abdullahi, the TWG will also seek to establish a central data repository and develop a common data architecture to enable seamless data integration and utilization.

He said: “Making data open and reusable fosters increased utilization and enables the creation of more data, thereby driving further growth in the digital economy.

“The Technical Working Group responsible for the National Data Strategy is expected to provide recommendations to regulatory agencies to develop relevant regulations. The strategy aims to ensure that Nigerians can actively participate in and benefit from the data economy”.

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