The National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) in conjunction with the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency, KASEDA have organised a capacity-building and empowerment programme for 50 indigenes of the state to support the transformative growth of their businesses by leveraging digital technology.

The three-day capacity building aimed to implement digital technology adoption for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, (MSMEs) in the state. This will help ensure that MSMEs adopt modern and relevant digital technologies to increase efficiency and effectiveness in achieving their business goals.

At the opening ceremony of the event in Katsina, the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Mallam Farouk Lawal Jobe who declared the event opened, described the commitment of the participants to harness technology to unlock the potential of their businesses as commendable and inspiring urging them to make “proper utilisation of the knowledge they would acquire from the training.”

He said, “In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, your decision to embrace innovation will undoubtedly propel your businesses to new heights of success. By leveraging digital tools and strategies, you are not only positioning yourselves for growth but also contributing to the overall advancement of the MSMEs sector.”

While assuring the participants of the state’s support and encouragement for embarking on the transformative journey, the state Deputy Governor enjoined them to unlock the full potential of MSMEs through digital innovations that would pave way for a brighter and prosperous future.

“I encourage you to approach this programme with enthusiasm, an open mind, and willingness to learn and adapt. Please, embrace the knowledge and insights shared, apply them diligently to your business endeavours. Remember, innovation knows no bounds, and with determination and perseverance, you can achieve remarkable results, he advised.

He commended NITDA for its foresight in selecting the state for the programme adding that it would offer the beneficiaries the opportunity to engage in profitable and modern ways of starting businesses that are digitally inclined.

The NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, who was represented by the Director, Digital Economy Development Department, Dr Salisu Kaka noted that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are essential to the growth of any economy because they have a significant potential to create jobs, advance local technology, diversify output, foster homegrown entrepreneurship, and integrate with large-scale industries.

He said, NITDA has taken definitive steps to fortify MSMEs through strategic interventions and dedicated programs adding that the Agency has championed digital literacy campaigns, delivered capacity-building workshops, and facilitated access to tailored technology-driven solutions.

The NITDA Boss said, “These initiatives are testaments to NITDA’s steadfast dedication to empowering MSMEs to navigate the digital terrain more effectively.”

He disclosed that NITDA has been collaborating with the Office of the Vice President to participate in the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinics which underscores the Agency’s commitment to supporting MSMEs, equipping them with IT knowledge and guidance.

“As we navigate the complexities of this digital age, let us collectively commit to empowering our MSMEs, the backbone of our economy, with the digital literacy, skills, and tools they need to thrive. By embracing the digital frontier, we will enhance the ease of doing business and foster a more inclusive and resilient economy that benefits all Nigerians,” Inuwa maintained.

While commending both the Federal and Katsina state governments for the funding they have both injected in MSMEs, the Director General noted further that the programme is a “response from NITDA to a call to action as initiated by the Excellencies the President and the Governor of Katsina State.”

In her welcome remarks, the KASEDA Director General, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi said the training is dedicated to exploring and transforming the powers of digital innovation in empowering SMEs which are the bedrock of every developing economy.

Describing MSMSs as the backbone of the economies by driving innovation, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating jobs Hajiya Malumfashi maintained that the MSMEs contribute a sizeable portion of the global economy as well assisting in terms of poverty, alleviation, and economic growth and diversification.

On the scope and the modules of the capacity building, the KASEDA boss informed that “throughout the course of this programme, we expect to delve into the various facets of digital innovation and explore practical strategies that will assist the MSMEs to embrace and leverage all these technologies effectively.”

The programme tagged NITDA Digital Empowerment for MSMEs (NDE4M) has as its theme “Leveraging Digital Technology to Improve MSME’s Business” aligns with the Redefined Presidential Priority of reforming the Economy to Deliver Sustained Inclusive Growth and NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 pillar on Nurture an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

The post NITDA, KASEDA Train, Empower MSMEs On Digital Marketing appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – Nigeria is said to have produced over 2000 digital innovation companies, which have subsequently invented some 384-technology products. The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa, which disclosed this, said these companies, which are largely startups raised over $2 billion in venture capital funding in 2021 alone.

As such, Inuwa said the digitisation policy drive of the Federal Government as contained in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) is impacting positively in corporate governance, Business-to-Business (B2B), Business-to-Customer (B2C), and Business-to-Government (B2G) relationships.

Inuwa stated this while delivering a good will message at the Validation Workshop for the National e-Commerce Policy and Strategy by the National Advisory Committee, on Electronic Commerce and Digital Economy (NACEDE), which took place in Abuja.

He said digital economic sector, which is a super-set of e-commerce, remains key to Nigeria’s economic recovery in the post-COVID era, deploying new technological innovations, such as e-commerce platforms, including social media-enabled trading handles, and ensuring rapid uptake of e-commerce for economic growth and competitiveness.

“Nigeria is experiencing the positive impact of e-commerce activities due to the growing increase in access to the Internet and related IT tools and services. The contributions of the telecommunications sector to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was an average15 per cent in July 2022 and experienced 44.5 per cent broadband penetration with active Internet subscriptions that peaked at 151 million,” Inuwa said.

READ ALSO: UNICEF, Airtel, Partner To Connect Over 300,000 Students To Digital Learning

The DG, who was represented by the Acting Director, Digital Economy and Development Department, Salisu Kaka, further said, “we have approximately 2000 digital innovation companies with 384 products in Nigeria. These Startups have raised over $2 billion in venture capital funding in 2021 alone. With an estimated 89,000 developers representing 12 per cent of the African developers’ population, Nigeria’s e-commerce market size is about $17 billion. There is yearly spending of about $12 billion in 2022, and this is projected to reach $75 billion by 2025.

“Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) appear to be the major beneficiaries of the concept of e-commerce as it enabled MSMEs to operate in the global marketplace. MSMEs can now participate in regional businesses and enjoys social, economic, and cultural networks seamlessly across international boundaries.

“Global corporations now operate with much consistency while MSMEs experience enhanced participation in international value chains, increased market access and reach improved internal and external market efficiency, and lower transaction costs,” he noted.

He also said that there is a need to maintain the tide and optimise the benefit of technology and e-commerce, which have necessitated Nigeria to have a robust national e-commerce policy and strategy.

“Additionally, Nigeria is a signatory to bilateral, regional, continental, and global treaties on trade and trade-related activities. Having a national policy that recognized these treaties is necessary for the mutual benefit of member nations.

“The policy will help us as a nation to make use of trade agreements that facilitate e-commerce for national benefits and avoid possible distortions that could jeopardize the optimization of the opportunities in e-commerce and hinders the growth of our businesses.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari, through the supervision of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. Prof. Isa Pantami is keen on ensuring developments in Nigeria’s Digital Economy sector. I believe that e-commerce policy is central to these developments”, he added.

The Chairman of NACEDE, Suleiman Adebayo Audu, Director of the Commodities and Export Department, at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in his earlier remarks stated that taking advantage of the Digital Economy will boost the growth of e-Commerce across the country thereby bringing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and grow the economy.

Adebayo averred that this policy document represented the priority of the Federal Government, the workshop will provide an avenue for inclusiveness of citizens to partake in the decision-making, and contributes ideas, initiatives, and critics that will be beneficial to the policy document before the full implementation for the benefit of the country.

The policy document will be compiled as part of the scorecard of the present administration, which will boost the operations of e-Commerce across the country.

The post Nigeria’s Startups Invent 384 Products as Digitisation Expands – Kashifu appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa CCIE has said that the digitisation policy drive of the Federal Government as contained in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) is impacting positively in corporate governance, Business-to-Business (B2B), Business-to-Customer (B2C), and Business-to-Government (B2G) relationships. 

Inuwa stated this while delivering a good will message at the Validation Workshop for the National e-Commerce Policy and Strategy by the National Advisory Committee, on Electronic Commerce and Digital Economy (NACEDE), which took place in Abuja.

He said, Digital Economic sector, which is a super-set of e-commerce, remains key to Nigeria’s economic recovery in the post-COVID era, deploying new technological innovations, such as e-commerce platforms, including social media-enabled trading handles, and ensuring rapid uptake of e-commerce for economic growth and competitiveness.

READ ALSO: NITDA Engages Imo State ICT Stakeholders On Digitization, Entrepreneurship Evolution

“Nigeria is experiencing the positive impact of e-commerce activities due to the growing increase in access to the Internet and related IT tools and services. The contributions of the telecommunications sector to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was an average15% in July 2022 and experienced 44.5% broadband penetration with active internet subscriptions that peaked at 151 million,” Inuwa said.

The DG who was represented by Engineer Salisu Kaka, Acting Director, Digital Economy and Developement Department, further said, “we have approximately 2000 digital innovation companies with 384 products in Nigeria. These Startups have raised over $2 billion in venture capital funding in 2021 alone. With an estimated 89,000 developers representing 12% of the African developers’ population, Nigeria’s e-commerce market size is about $17 billion. There is annual spending of about $12 billion in 2022, and this is projected to reach $75 billion by 2025.”

“Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) appear to be the major beneficiaries of the concept of e-commerce as it enabled MSMEs to operate in the global marketplace. MSMEs can now participate in regional businesses and enjoys social, economic, and cultural networks seamlessly across international boundaries.

“Global corporations now operate with much consistency while MSMEs experience enhanced participation in international value chains, increased market access and reach improved internal and external market efficiency, and lower transaction costs,” he noted.

He also said that there is a need to maintain the tide and optimize the benefit of technology and e-commerce, which have necessitated Nigeria to have a robust national e-commerce policy and strategy.

“Additionally, Nigeria is a signatory to bilateral, regional, continental, and global treaties on trade and trade-related activities. Having a national policy that recognized these treaties is necessary for the mutual benefit of member nations.

“The policy will help us as a nation to make use of trade agreements that facilitate e-commerce for national benefits and avoid possible distortions that could jeopardize the optimization of the opportunities in e-commerce and hinders the growth of our businesses.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammad Buhari (GCFR), through the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is keen on ensuring developments in Nigeria’s Digital Economy sector. I believe that e-commerce policy is central to these developments”, he added.

The Chairman of NACEDE, Mr. Suleman Adebayo Audu, Director of the Commodities and Export Department, at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in his earlier remarks stated that taking advantage of the Digital Economy will boost the growth of e-Commerce across the country thereby bringing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and grow the economy.

Adebayo averred that this policy document represented the priority of the Federal Government, the workshop will provide an avenue for inclusiveness of citizens to partake in the decision-making, and contributes ideas, initiatives, and critics that will be beneficial to the policy document before the full implementation for the benefit of the country.

The policy document will be compiled as part of the scorecard of the present administration which will boost the operations of e-Commerce across the country.
The workshop organised by the Agency in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), aimed at providing a platform to review, deliberate, and contribute towards the full implementation of the policy document.

NITDA in collaboration with the Trade Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), have jointly worked to produce the draft National E-Commerce Policy and Strategy document for Nigeria. The work is part of the Nigerian Government’s efforts to meet the ECOWAS, AU, and the global requirements for trade development in general and e-commerce in particular.

The post How Digitalization Policy Drive Impact Country Positively – NITDA Boss appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECH DIGEST – The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi says the outbreak of COVID 19 has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies in all sphere of life.

Abdullahi made this remarks in a lecture titled; “Implementing The National Digital Policy Economy for Digital Nigeria: Issues and Prospects”, for participants of Senior Executive Course 43 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategies, Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

Abdullahi, who was represented by the Acting Director, Digital Economy Department, Engr. Salisu Kaka, noted that; “the disruption to our daily lives, orchestrated by the pandemic, is repositioning the digital economy and giving it an edge over traditional economies. Adding that despite the economic downturn, occasioned by the pandemic, most countries with viable digital economies witnessed growth.

He maintained that, for Nigeria to accelerate growth and modernize the economy there is a need to develop a strategy for digitally inclined growth for the nation’s economy. He observed that digital technology based companies, such as; Google, Amazon, Zoom and others, recorded growth during the lockdown. “In Nigeria too, digital technology companies like; Flutterwave, Jumia, Buypower, etc., are all attestation to the potential growth of digital economy.

The DG, while describing digital economy as an engine for growth, said Nigeria can harness it as a driver for growth and innovation. According to Mallam Abdullahi, African Union has launched Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) initiative which aimed at accelerating the economic growth of the continent. He said, “The DE4A initiative recognizes that the digital economy can help to accelerate the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Bank Group’s twin goals.” (Group, 2021)

“For Nigeria, a country in dire need to diversify its economy, digital economy activities are key for diversification because they transcend all aspect of human endeavour.” While citing an example, the DG noted that designing indigenous software to solve local economic problems with local content will expand knowledge and education, create jobs in the process, and deepen integration with the global economy,” he added.

According to him, many scholars have tried to come up with some guiding definitions on digital technology, and by extension digital economy, saying in this regards, that digital technologies are changing the world at a faster pace than previously experienced. Waves of technological innovation are re-shaping the world and introducing new business models to all sectors, among which is a rapid transformation that leads to the emergence of the digital economy.

He said, “Though there is no specific definition of Digital Economy, but the term was first coined in 1995 by Tapscott, saying digital economy is a kind of economy that focuses on digital technologies. It essentially covers all business, economic, socio-cultural activities that are supported by the web and other digital communication technologies. Digital economy is also referred to as Internet Economy, Web or New Economy.”

He further stated that digital economy is the economic activity that results from billions of everyday online connections among people, businesses, devices, data, and processes. Adding that, the backbone of the digital economy is hyper-connectivity, which means the growing interconnectedness of people, organizations, and machines which is promoted by internet mobile technology, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The post COVID-19 Driving Digital Technology Adoption – NITDA appeared first on Tech Digest News.