As Nigeria continues her drive in moving the nation forward to a knowledge based economy, the digital revolution role played by the National Information Technology and Digital Agency (NITDA) can not be over-emphasized.
Established in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy, NITDA’s mandate revolves around seven important adpect of digitization necessary in the development of a digitally driven economy, hinged on the principle of ensuring the nation not left behind among the leagues of nations to benefits from the gains digitization.
In 2024, in line with NITDA’s mandate, and in consonants with the Renewed Hope Agenda of president Bola Tinubu’s administration, NITDA has made a significant move in implementing its mandate across Nigeria to ensure digital innovation brings about enhance citizens, job creation, thereby strengthening the country’s competitive and comparative advantage.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi at the 2024 Digital Nigeria Challenge highlighted the growing importance of data as the “currency” of the digital economy, adding that having something home-grown is important because data drives everything in the digital age, and also fosters a sustainable digital economy.
Strengthening cybersecurity: NITDA
emphasized that data security and privacy are essential to ensuring Nigeria’s digital sovereignty. This is as it is said that strengthening cybersecurity enhances digital trust. on this note, NITDA, in collaboration with
Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API), released a whitepaper on the framework for online harms protection bill in Nigeria, thereby creating basis for engagement with other relevant regulators, the security sector, civil society organisations, local and international internet platforms, businesses, and the wider public.
NITDA, under the able leadership of the DG, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi through The Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge which was organized NITDA’s impact received international acclaim when it was awarded the “Maximising Impact Award” at Coursera’s 2024 Outstanding Enterprise Customer Achievement Ceremony. This prestigious honor reflects the agency’s dedication to workforce development and its success in promoting digital education nationwide organised by NITDA’s Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation digital (ONDI ), have provided a platform for Nigerian tech entrepreneurs to showcase groundbreaking ideas to aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0 pillars. Part of its objectives includes fostering digital literacy, cultivating talent, and nurturing an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In the quest to ensure that the Nigerian youth is viable for the world digital market, NITDA collaborated with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), leveraging its widespread presence across the 774 local government areas to equip selected corps members with digital skills, enabling them to train approximately 30 million people in rural areas in digital literacy, as aspect of the agency’s mandate which dwells on promoting digital literacy and talent cultivation.
NITDA’s “One Million Developers and Skills” program equipped more than 8,000 Nigerians with critical digital competencies. By empowering young professionals with these skills, the initiative seeks to position Nigeria as a hub for tech talent in the global market.
In recognition of NITDA’s
giant strides, and the pibotal roles played by the Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, NITDA received international acclaim when it was awarded the “Maximising Impact Award” at Coursera’s 2024 Outstanding Enterprise Customer Achievement Ceremony. A prestigious honour that reflects the agency’s dedication to workforce development and its success in promoting digital education nationwide.
These and many more are a pointer to the resolve of NITDA under the leadership of Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, to ensure that Nigeria finds itself at the center stage in the league of digitally revolutionized economies of the world.
