In a strategic partnership move to bolster Nigeria’s standing in the global digital market, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has reiterated that the country is open to investors and investments, as Nigeria is unarguably inching towards joining the community of digitally driven Nations.

Inuwa made this known after giving a nod to the collaboration request pitched by Seidor Team led by the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Juan Seli who were at the Corporate Headquarters of the Agency on a courtesy visit.

The DG who was represented by the Director, Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Solutions (ITIS), Dr Usman Abdullahi Gambo, described the visit as historic, stressing that the areas to collaborate on are vast, especially as there are multiple projects that NITDA is driving from organisational point of view and others driven on behalf of other agencies of government.

While enumerating key areas of partnership which include Talent Management, Innovations, Local Content, Capacity Building, amongst others, the Director-General informed the delegation that the creation of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) underpins government’s determination to develop a suitable environment for discovering and harnessing the limitless ingenious ideas of Nigeria’s teeming youth population for national growth through the promotion of innovative technologies.

According to Inuwa, “With the actualisation of the centre, the youth segment of the population is constantly being challenged to channel their ingenuity towards preparing solutions that seek to address challenges across all sectors of the economy, immediate and future problems that have global impact”.

“One of the initiatives of the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, is for us to be able to build the capacity of 3 million Nigerians, that’s 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”, Inuwa noted.

The NITDA Boss assured the team of the Agency’s readiness to deepen discussions in furtherance of the collaboration and expressed optimism that the partnership would be mutually beneficial to all parties.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Juan Sell, while facilitating the collaborative talks noted that the partnership would deepen the already existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

“We are here to facilitate and we will be following up on your proposal to organise further technical meetings or focus and as I said, we are open to any recommendations because we are aware of the central role that you play in the ecosystem”.

“As for other meetings that the team would have outside the agency with other potential partners in the public sector or the private sector, we will be very grateful and look forward to receiving your recommendations and advice on the best approach to hit the ground running”, Sell added.

The meeting also featured slide presentation from one of SEIDOR’s representatives, Jaume Feuntes, who explained the fact that SEIDOR is a technology consulting company that promotes the competitiveness and the transformation of organisations based on the opportunities presented by technologies and business knowledge, always focusing on the value of the human factor and committed to talent hunt and social development.

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TECHDIGEST – The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, who was represented by Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, highlighted some of Nigeria’s initiatives focused on fostering the growth and development of the country’s startup ecosystem at this year’s ‘The Next Web’, (TNW), Conference held from 15th to 16th June, 2023, at the Taets Art and Event Park, Amsterdam.

The NITDA Boss highlighted the establishment of a Startup Investment Seed Fund, to be managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). The fund will target early-stage startups, hubs and other entities that support the startup ecosystem. That the fund is to be funded annually with a minimum of N10,000,000,000.00 (Ten Billion Naira) towards financing labelled startups and others as seed funds, grants or loans.

Nigeria’s Innovative approach in the development of the Nigeria Startup Act was celebrated by the global technology ecosystem stakeholders during the Deep Tech Roundtable, held as part of ‘The Assembly’, one of the strategic sessions of TNW.

Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, the Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), was in attendance as a Special Guest and participated in several roundtable sessions including ‘The Assembly’ and the Startup Genome Ecosystem Leadership Forum.

READ ALSO: Tech Week 2023: NITDA Boss woos Investors at London 

Inuwa informed that one key legislation co-created by ecosystem stakeholders, the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA), is an example of the country’s approach to Developmental Regulation, one of the pillars of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS).

“That the NSA project, a joint initiative by Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and the Presidency driven by Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, was aimed at harnessing the potentials of Nigeria’s digital economy through co-created regulations.

“That the objectives of the Act include, among others, to provide an enabling environment for the establishment, development and operation of startups in Nigeria; to provide a legal and institutional framework for the development of startups in Nigeria; to provide for the development and growth of technology-related talents; and to position Nigeria’s startup ecosystem as the leading digital technology centre in Africa, having excellent innovators with cutting edge skills and exportable capacity.

The NITDA Boss further informed that the Act is made up of ten (10) parts which cuts across five (5) drivers, namely collaboration, engagement, incentives, linkages and support. That the Act intends to increase collaboration within Government and its interactions with ecosystem practitioners by the establishment of the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“That the Council will be presided over by the President as Chairman alongside representatives of the Federal Executive arm of Government, the Director General of NITDA as Secretary and representatives of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and the Startup Consultative Forum.

“That the Council is to monitor and evaluate regulatory frameworks; formulate and implement policy guidelines, oversee the harmonisation of laws, and regulations for the development of startups in Nigeria.

“That NITDA is to serve as the Secretariat of the Council with the DG to serve in a dual capacity of both the Secretary of the Council and the Head of the Secretariat”.

Additionally, Inuwa highlighted the establishment of a Startup Support and Engagement Portal which is to serve as a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ for startups to register with all relevant regulatory Agencies of Government.

“This is aimed at saving time as well as associated costs when engaging the Agencies on individual basis. It will also facilitate the improvement of the ease of doing business within the tech ecosystem, in line with the provisions of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC),” he added.

He also indicated that these and many other provisions of the Act present a promising future for startups in Nigeria. That Nigeria’s hope is for the Act to serve as a veritable tool towards fostering the development and sustenance of an enabling Startup ecosystem in the country.

He therefore called on stakeholders to support the Secretariat in realizing the potentials of the Act.

Stakeholders in attendance hailed Nigeria’s approach and opined that it is an excellent example of co-created regulation for others to emulate.

Matt Smith, Director, Policy and Research, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), in his remarks, revealed that he has been following with keen interest the unprecedented developments in Nigeria’s Startup ecosystem.

“That often, governments seeking to empower entrepreneurs tend find themselves developing and implementing a complex range of reforms, policies and programmes that cut across ministerial and departmental portfolios.

“That without central coordination, it is easy for such reforms to stall due to limited legislative capacity, disagreements between responsible departments, or end up with duplicate or competing initiatives between departments.

“That Nigeria’s innovative approach in the crafting of the Startup Act will no doubt minimize such pitfalls, offers a promising future for the country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and is already inspiring similar startup acts around the world”.

He therefore said that Nigeria deserves commendation for this innovative approach.

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TECHDIGEST – In harnessing skills and resources towards the sustainability of the nation’s digital economy, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has made a call for robust partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora in driving the Agency’s initiatives towards the development of the nation’s economy.

The NITDA DG made this known during a courtesy visit by the Continental Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe (NIDOE), Dr. Bashir Obasekola, to the Agency’s Corporate headquarters in Abuja.

As a very dynamic personality who has led the agency in attaining giant strides in different areas of its mandate over the years, Inuwa believes that fostering partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora would enable the Nigerian government to tap into the vast opportunities offered by Nigerians with industry exposure in diaspora and provide a deeper sense of purpose to national development.

Inuwa, who was represented at the meeting by the agency’s Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions department, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, hinted that partnering with NIDOE will provide a foundation that can be built on for further collaborations with Nigerians in the diaspora.

“NIDOE is the second largest Nigerians in diaspora organization across the world, and you being here is the beginning of a relationship we have been hoping to build”, he noted.

READ ALSO: Two Nigerian Startups Win $300,000 At LEAP’s Competition in Riyadh

Speaking on his unflinching commitment to making the agency a high-velocity one, Inuwa disclosed that, through its Research and Development department, the agency has developed a Brain Circulation Strategic Program for 2023 by networking with people in the diaspora to drive the Research and Development ecosystem of the country.

While emphasizing the need for effective collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora on the agency’s initiatives, Inuwa enthusiastically expressed the agency’s willingness to co-creating with them in the development of its regulatory instruments.

“Individually, Nigerians in the diaspora are making efforts and driving good initiatives but collectively, we can work to sustain all these initiatives which is why, in developing our regulatory instruments, we have open invitations for volunteers across the world”, he said.

The DG further revealed that the Code of Practice for social media, National Artificial Intelligence Policy, National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS) and the National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS) are initiatives of the agency which were been currently subjected to stakeholders engagement and have attracted interests from Nigerians in diaspora in support of their development.

Citing the LEAP event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 2 Nigerian startups won a $300,000 grant as an example, Inuwa believes that the engagement with NIDOE would further improve the flow of foreign direct investments into the country.

“This meeting is very important to us and we feel this is the beginning of the relationship we want to establish that will be mutually beneficial to Nigerians in the diaspora and to Nigeria.”, he concluded.

Giving his remark earlier, Dr. Bashir Obasekola appreciated NITDA for the warm reception and applauded the Agency for its immense contribution to the growth of the national economy.

He gave assurances of the organization’s support in collaborating with the Agency through effective training, mentoring, consultancy, investment and funding in areas of IT Research & Development, Cybersecurity, amongst other initiatives.

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TECHDIGEST – As part of efforts to foster the implementation of the digital literacy and skills pillar of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), today conducted virtual inauguration of the Government Stakeholders Engagement Committee for the Development of the National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS).

The Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, speaking at the event recognises that collaborating with key government stakeholders to develop the NDSS will eminently assist in producing a very strong and encompassing strategy.

The NDSS inaugural engagement committee comprised of representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), saddled with the responsibility to develop and co-create the National Digital Skills and Strategy (NDSS) which will focus on balancing the gaps between the digital skills supply pipeline and in-demand skill sets required for the future of work in Nigeria.

Inuwa who was represented by the Director IT Infrastructure Solutions, ITIS Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi noted that there was a call earlier for volunteer experts to conduct research in determining the talent gap assessment, adding that the assessment was carried out by Co-Creation Hub which culminated into the first draft of the NDSS.

He cited Statista on the 2021 World Bank, International Finance Corporation Report on the adoption rate of digital skills which was projected to increase from 25% to 45% by 2030. ”The demand for digital skills in sub-Saharan Africa shows a higher tertiary Gross Enrolment Ratio, (GER) of about 11 percent and will result in an increased number of digitally literate graduates,” he said.

The NITDA boss further stated that, with a population of over 200 million, Nigerians which accounts for 47% of West Africa’s population, “Nigeria has a significant brain capital advantage with a large youthful population of an average age of 19 years. Nigeria has a strong comparative advantage to leverage on technology and use this opportunity to supply labor to the global market.”

READ ALSO: Kwara State hosts 250 tech innovators for hackathon to improve govt operations

He reiterated that NITDA has been driving the growth and regulation of the IT sector in the country, providing an enabling environment under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to boost the growth of the Nigerian ICT industry. These are targeted to maximize our socio-economic opportunities as we are leading our nation to embrace digital transformation, and to achieve 95% Digital Literacy penetration by the year 2030 as one of the critical key pillars and targets of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), Inuwa said.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Director, Digital Literacy and Capacity Building department of the Agency, Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji said,” we are in the era where skills can give you access to job either physically, remotely or help you to start enterprises that can create jobs for the nation and the world at large.”

She emphasized that any certificate acquired without the right skill set would likely be disadvantageous to the person in this digital era. “This strategy is coming at a time when we are bridging the talent gap, not just in Nigeria but globally,” Dr. Magaji said.

She added that the Rule Making Process (RMP) of NITDA encourages the involvement stakeholders in the development of strategic document hence the need for the engagement.

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TECHDIGEST – To accelerate the digitisation and the delivery of content services platforms in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in achieving a digital Nigeria, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE said the implementation of the service-wide Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solution, organized by the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, will result in an annual saving of about N4.5 billion in Nigeria.

Inuwa, who was represented by the Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions (ITIS) Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi disclosed this while presenting a paper at the one-day ECM Service-Wide Round Table Workshop on ECM implementation with the topic “The Modalities of Software Clearance on ECM Solution for MDAs” at the Rotunda Hall, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja.

While emphasizing the importance of ECM implementation, Inuwa said it is a critical success factor required by any enterprise to survive in this modern and competitive post-Covid-19 world to aid information availability, agile business processes and conformity to governmental regulatory requirements.

He added that ECM addresses the limitations and provides the capabilities to effectively and efficiently manage the challenges imposed by the demanding business requirements of the modern world.

READ ALSO: Pantami Unveils Books on Datafication and Cybersecurity at Emerging Technologies Forum

He said, “Constraints such as complexity of massive volumes of variant data and information that exists in a broad array of formats, complex and extended business processes spanning across the business functions and partners around the globe, the need for integration and interoperability, fulfillment of compliance to legal and regulatory requirements are expected to be resolved by the implementation of the ECM”.

“The Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) and other Government establishments are not left out in this pursuit of digital transformation excellence, which is in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS 2020-2030) as well as Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 2021-2025).

“Digitalisation of Government processes facilitates transparency, efficiency, productivity, participation, inclusiveness, cost savings, and competitive advantage, which ultimately translates to social and economic development for a country like Nigeria. Therefore, digitalisation of Government processes is no longer a choice, but a must for any country aiming for development. ECM is used to manage information throughout its lifecycle, in line with the Digital Services Development and Promotion Pillar of NDEPS, among others,” he added.

According to the NITDA Boss, some of the benefits of ECM to FPIs include saving employees time for mining information from physical paper documents, reduced cost of file storage and paper needs, and strengthening security by ensuring information confidentiality, integrity, availability, and increasing in regulatory compliance.

He referred to the Federal Government Circular No SGF/6/S.19/T/65 of 18th April, 2006 that directed all Federal Public Institutions planning to embark on any IT project to obtain clearance from NITDA. This directive was reissued on the 31st August, 2018 with Circular Number 59736/S.2/C.II/125, reiterating the need for all FPIs and other Government establishments to relate with and obtain clearance before embarking on any IT project.

He noted that to ensure seamless implementation of this mandate, NITDA issued a Guideline on IT Project Clearance in line with the need for a coordinated, standardized, and orderly approach to the deployment of IT systems by FPIs.

He disclosed that a total of 258 projects from 97 FPIs amounting to a total investment of N152,043,373,117.25 were cleared, in 2021 and a total of N24,403,266,842.86 was saved for the Government in the same year.

In consideration of the tremendous success of the IT Projects Clearance process, the Federal Executive Council, at its sitting on the 9th March 2022, approved that FPIs must obtain a Quality Assurance Certificate from NITDA for any cleared IT project that is up to N1,000,000,000.00 or more, prior to the closure of the project. This is to further strengthen the value realisation of Government investment in Digital Transformation.

The Head of Civil Service’s ECM project has passed through the NITDA IT Clearance process. The project was granted clearance on the 23rd of February 2022 after satisfactorily meeting all the requirements, including thorough engagement with the technical personnel from the office of the Head of Civil Service as well as the potential Service Provider.

The DG concluded that ECM is the key to the transformation of FPIs into a digital and automated environment where any work process can be created and confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information are guaranteed.

While applauding the initiative by the Head of Service of the Federation in setting the pace for the implementation of ECM Inuwa called on all FPIs to key into this initiative and submit their ECM projects for Clearance by NITDA.

In her opening remarks, the Head of Service, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan elaborated on some of the processes that have been engaged in the implementation of the ECM.
She stated that her office set up a culture change joint project committee in July 2020. The committee delivered the solution, reduced the status of ECMs in various Local Government Areas, did a review of the functional and technical requirements of the ECMs platform, developed request for a proposal for the procurement of the service provider, and went ahead to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the office of the Head of the Service and all other LGAs and have also looked at deploying infrastructural support for the effective implementation of ECM.
She added that a change and communication management team was established to conduct risk management of the ECMs and that 16 MDAs and staff in LGAs and the office of the Head of Service, through the collaboration and support of the Federal Ministry of communication and Digital Economy have already be trained.

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TECHDIGEST  – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through the Digital Transformation Technical Working Groups (DT-TWGs), has commenced a 5-day workshop with seven federal public institutions (FPIs) to enable seamless implementation of Nigeria’s e-Government Master Plan (Ne-GMP).

The agency’s Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said capacity building remains critical to achieving the country’s e-Government roadmap.

“To reduce the complexity associated with digital transformation and accelerate the achievement of expected values from the deployment of IT systems, digital technologies, innovations, and edge against the lack of strategic architecture, insufficient collaboration, integration, sourcing, or effective project management, NITDA in 2018 and 2019 developed the Nigeria e-Government Interoperability Framework (Ne-GIF) and Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture (NGEA),” said the NITDA boss while declaring the workshop open.

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Inuwa, who was represented by Director IT Infrastructure Solutions (ITIS), Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, recalled that the Ne-GMP was approved and launched by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the 24th of May 2019.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, launched the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria at the opening ceremony of the eNigeria Conference, Exhibitions and Awards on November 28, 2019.

Inuwa noted that these two documents set clear directions for government digital transformation in Nigeria, which NITDA is taking strategic steps to implement.

Globally, the Enterprise Architecture (EA) is being utilised as a standard tool for implementing digital transformation plans and strategies, said Inuwa.

He added: “These documents form the foundation for taking government-wide IT deployment from silo-based to an integrated whole-of-government approach and ultimately an asset for digital government transformation.”

He explained that the seven layers of NGEA, which are Business, Service, Data, Application, IT Infrastructure, Security, and Performance are centred around people and processes, with each layer having high-level expectations for FPIs, and as well specified best practices, standards, tools, reference models, and recommendations that will help achieve the value propositions and citizens’ expectations for government digital services.

Hence, he said, NITDA, under the directives of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has embarked on many initiatives such as the NGEA/Ne-GIF National Implementation Committee comprising of about 40 critical FPIs representatives and IT industry players to govern and advise on government-wide digitisation of processes and functions, phased assessment of IT systems, Digital Services, and Capabilities for 200 FPIs to establish AS-IS situation analysis, and provided capacity for over 448 DT-TWG members across the 100 FPIs inaugurated earlier, and several others, in line with implementing the e-Government Master Plan.

“Digital Transformation calls for a rethink in how public institutions do business and deliver public value and experience to customers. Transformation cannot happen effectively on the outside unless it happens on the inside”, he noted.

Consequently, NITDA has taken another step to establish Digital Transformation Technical Working Groups in seven FPIs with the following responsibilities and expectations; to play the role of advocates for the digital economy and digital transformation-related activities, advise their management on adoption and utilization of digital technologies for business transformation and effective digital service delivery, guide automation and digitization of government business processes, provide support and guidance for initiation and implementation of IT projects.

The groups is also tasked with ensuring IT and government business alignment, propose and implement initiatives to enhance Government Digital Services (GDS), ensure GDS and IT projects implementation is in compliance with the provisions of NDEPS, Ne-GMP, IT Projects Clearance Policy and Guidelines, Ne-GIF, NGEA, NDPR, and other National ICT/e-Government documents, develop and implement their organization ICT plan and Enterprise Architecture (EA) including solution architecture for IT deployment, and perform any other functions that may be assigned by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, and in line with the provision of NITDA Act 2007.

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TECHDIGEST – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has said that continued investment in Digital Innovation will boost the education sector and the economy as a whole.
The agency promised to continue it’s effort at supporting and collaborating with all higher institutions of learning across the country.

Kashifu Inuwa, the NITDA Director-General, represented by Dr. Abdullahi Gambo Usman, the Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions of the Agency, stated this when receiving Professor Mary Agbo, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Federal University Dutsen Ma, Katsina state, during the week, in Abuja.

He said, “the Agency will continue to interact and listen to active and vibrant higher institution of learning with a view of discussing the challenges facing them especially in the Area of IT and Innovation.”

As the prime Agency for e-government implementation, internet governance, and overall IT development in Nigeria, NITDA is poised to actualize its mandate by providing flourishing atmosphere in Digital space.

He said it is Important to seek to explore the benefits of innovations and creativity in order to bring about functional education sector for the country.

He further emphasized that there is need for mutual understanding between stakeholders and the Agency in developing Standards, Capacity building, Research and Development .

He added that IT sector played a pivotal role in getting the country’s economy out of recession, and recorded the highest growth rate in Q1 of 2020 as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

He maintained that, with the positive growth of IT in Nigeria, being the only double digits growth rate sector, which made it to lead in the year 2020 and Q1 of 2021, is what prompted the need to provide support and guidelines in all sectors of development and innovation to Nigerian.

Responding to the plea and request from the visiting university, as outlined by the DVC, especially in the area of security challenges in visualisation of the Optic Fiber Cable that links the 2 campuses which were donated to the university by professor Pantami through NCC.

The DG recommended some technologies that can be deployed to ensure security which include ‘autonomous drones’ that can cut back human involvement in these often-dangerous situation. It can also help cut cost while bolstering safety at the same time.

“By using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interpret satellite images, NITDA experts have long been able to tap into satellite images to help in preventive and response efforts,” he said.

Stating further that with the availability and quality of these images, they increasingly offer an even more valuable resource for security.

He explained that, “NITDA always emphasizes on how important it is to know how to use modern technology, not just as an enabler but as a strategic design for your strategy in general which will inspire you to do more.”

NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action plan (SRAP 2021-2024)is built on seven pillars with their respective goals and objectives, which are; Developmental regulations, Digital literacy and skills, Digital transformation, Digital innovation and Entrepreneurship, Cyber security, Emerging Technologies and Promotion of indigenous content, he said.

Inuwa noted that the Agency’s focus is improving how things are being done using technology and innovation by creating an enabling environment and innovation ecosystem that will allow all universities to key in.

The DVC Administration, Federal University Dutsen Ma, Professor Mary Agbo, in her remarks, noted that the university appreciated the kind gesture and laudable project from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for the giant projects executed in the university.

She also appreciated and solicited further support from NITDA in capacity building and training for staff of the CBT centre of the University.

Prof Agbo commended NITDA for the various IT intervention deployed across the country towards the growth and development of IT, which she said plays a critical role for the advancement of the country and also towards the Education Sector.

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TECHDIGEST – With the advent of emerging technologies which are disrupting the existing traditional processes by revolutionizing the way people interact and transact businesses, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa has said that Blockchain technology supports the digital transformation agenda of the Agency and will facilitate the development of Nigeria into a Digital Economy.

The DG who was represented by the Agency’s Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions department, Dr Usman Gambo Abdullalhi at the Abuja Blockchain and Crypto-Assets Conference/Exhibition 2021 where he stated in a keynote address that Blockchain Technology acquaints people with vast opportunities and help overcome challenges.

According to the DG, Blockchain is an emerging  technology that provides a secured distributive ledger platform for seamless transactions which can lead to new opportunities that can benefit industries through greater transparency, enhanced security and easier traceability.

He said NITDA, through its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) is committed to promoting emerging technologies with the purpose of  building a healthy and enviable IT ecosystem.

Inuwa however expressed concerns on the need to enforce regulations that will protect citizens and ensure fair markets without stifling innovation as the Agency’s commitment to implementing regulatory instruments and implementation strategies will drive adoption of technology by both public and private sectors.

“I am glad to say that, NITDA’s efforts towards the development of a National Blockchain Adoption Strategy document advances the efforts of Mr President and the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy in creating and fostering an efficient, safe, and economically productive and viable Digital Nigeria using the Blockchain Technology”, the DG averred.

He remains optimistic that the developed strategy for Blockchain will unleash potentials in all sectors leading to improved efficiency, transparency and accountability in governance.

“Blockchain Technology would surely key into the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government by increasing the contribution of ICT and innovation to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”, he said.

While giving assurances of NITDA’s utmost support to technology and innovation ecosystem, the DG noted that technology policies, frameworks and guidelines are important parameters in building a lucrative IT industry.

Inuwa then urged participants at the event to brainstorm and develop initiatives that will assist the government on devising best ways and practices to help surmount challenges faced by the country.

“We must not be defined by our current challenges, they are not who we are, we are bigger than them, we must be defined by our dreams and aspirations, we must be defined by what we can achieve”, the DG concluded

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TECHDIGEST – As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 2021 Universal Children’s Day recently, many students smiled home with brand new Laptop and Desk Computers as part of efforts the National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA at improving and standardising a SMART digital education.

“The gesture to the Nigerian students was borne out of the Agency’s strategic approach to developing emerging technology in Nigeria” commented Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, the director general National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), at the 2021 Universal Children’s Day celebration organised by the Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV) in Abuja.

The NITDA boss who was ably represented by Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, director Information Technology and Infrastructure Solutions ITIS, noted that the younger generation holds the future of this Country.

Mallam Kashifu stated that in realization of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of diversifying the nation’s economy, the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy FMoCDE was able to secure the approval of the Federal Executive Council for the implementation of the new National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria with a focus on Emerging Technologies and Innovations.

“Technology drives everything, in realization of that, NITDA shifted it’s intervention to education sector and students in particular, with a view to encouraging their technological and innovative ideas,” he said.

He further disclosed that, since NITDA was created twenty years ago, its intervention were spread across the 774 local government areas in the country, by establishing learning centres to cater for research and other developing emerging technologies.

The NITDA boss assured Nigerian students of the Agency’s commitment towards providing IT infrastructures that would aid and support emerging technologies to students in Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and schools for people with Special Needs.

Earlier, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the House of Representatives, said that deliberate efforts must be made to prepare the Nigerian Children and Youth to become the desired leaders of tomorrow.

The Speaker noted that, equipping the students with necessary technology is one of the surest ways of securing the future of the country, giving people with multiple ideas the opportunity to be at the very top of governance.

Gbajabiamila, also called for continuous investment in the education of the Nigerian youth particularly in technological advancement, to enable conformity with global transformational trends.

“Technology has changed our world, we no longer exist in communal or national silos but as part of a braid fabric of humanity in a global village where opportunities and challenges abound,” he commented.

Hon. Gbajabiamila described the impact of emerging technology as the opening of a new world where a child with computer and internet connection in Lagos can compete for jobs in Texas or Bombay.

“Our job as leaders he emphasised is to ensure that every Nigerian child is educated and empowered to compete and succeed in this global market place of ideas and talent”.

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TECHDIGEST – The director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, has advised the National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS) to use their talents to exploit the abundant opportunities to promote ICT innovation in the country.

Represented by Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, director of IT Infrastructure Solution, Inuwa made the call when members of the Association visited the Agency’s corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

He said, as the apex IT regulatory body, saddled with the mandate of developing and regulating the use of IT in Nigeria, NITDA is always ready to deploy expertise to support any organisation that has the zeal of bringing ideas that will boost ICT and digital innovation in the country.

Inuwa disclosed that NITDA recently unveiled its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2021 – 2024 (SRAP), which was designed as a template to assist the Agency in achieving its target through the execution of the strategic pillars.

The DG, therefore, urged the Association to key into the programmes and initiatives enshrined in the SRAP in order to actualise their dreams.

He said, “It is optimistic that the Computer Students are willing to tap into the Agency’s collaborative mechanism through innovation and new ways of technology advancement, more especially as Nigerian youth can utilise the NITDA Virtual Academy which is currently training Nigerian youth on various IT courses.

Inuwa also assured NACOSS of NITDA’s commitment towards incorporating the Association into the Agency’s Digital Transformation and innovation activities to scale their target, and achieve their projects tagged “Campus Ambassadors Programme’’.

Earlier, the National president of NACOSS, Comrade Olaminiki Abolade said that the visit was to solicit the support of NITDA in actualizing the Association’s Innovation Challenge that will hold in all Universities across Nigeria.

The NACOSS President also used the opportunity to present the Association’s ”Campus Ambassadors Programme Award’’ to the NITDA DG in appreciation of his pledge to contribute to the actualization of their dreams.

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