The National Information
Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is set to collaborate with the
International Financial Corporation (IFC) by co-creating robust regulatory
frameworks in implementing government policies aimed at digitally transforming
the country and sustaining a vibrant digital economy.
The disclosure was made known by
the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, when he hosted a delegation from the
IFC, led by the corporation’s Senior Economist, Nadege D. Yameogo, at the
corporate headquarters of the agency in Abuja.
Inuwa noted that President Bola
Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and
Digital Economy to enhance productivity through technological innovation in
diversifying the nation’s economy, stating that a strategic plan with five
strategic pillars has been unveiled by the ministry to achieve this.
While enumerating the pillars as
Knowledge, Policies, Infrastructure, Innovation, Entrepreneurship &
Captial, and lastly, Trade, he explained that knowledge is the foundation upon
which countries build a robust and sustainable economy and it was imperative to
create an enabling environment where innovations and entrepreneurship ecosystem
can thrive and commercialised globally.
“When we invest and we build the
infrastructure, it will enable us to trade “made in Nigeria” products and
services, as well as our greatest resource, which is our talent,” he said.
Inuwa further noted that the
agency is re-crafting its Strategic Roadmap & Action Plan (SRAP) policy
document in implementing the Ministry’s strategic plan of accelerating the
country’s collective prosperity through technical efficiency.
Expressing his enthusiasm at
having the visitors on board for the agency’s stakeholder engagement on
re-crafting the agency’s SRAP, Inuwa mentioned that the aim is to co-design the
document so that the ecosystem could co-create the strategy and implement it.
Noting that the document would
have eight strategic pillars, he said that Fostering Digital Literacy and
Cultivating Talent will be the first pillar.
“We have the National Digital
Literacy Framework (NDLF) where we have a target of achieving 95per cent
digital literacy by 2030, and we have a midterm target of 70per cent by 2027.
So, in the designing of this strategy, we want to get the stakeholders that
will execute because we want it to be a strategy for execution,” he said.
The NITDA DG expressed his
optimism that with the population of youths in the country if well harnessed
and cultivated, Nigeria could compete with any country globally in terms of
rendering services.
He said that the agency is
willing to bring all stakeholders on board in providing inputs on how to design
the strategy and identify some legal frameworks for the second pillar which is
to 'Strengthen Policy Implementation and Legal Frameworks.'
While emphasizing the need for
the country to invest in deep research of technology, he stated that the third
pillar is about Building a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem.
“Remember the mandate is to
enhance productivity in critical sectors, so we see the digital economy beyond
just being within the IT sector. It is pervasive so our goal is to apply it in
different sectors to increase productivity”, he noted.
Inuwa further disclosed that the
fourth pillar is on Promoting Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure &
Services which according to him, will bridge the digital divide in the country
and ensure everyone has access to the safe and responsible use of digital
devices and platforms.
“We have a target of 40per cent
of women inclusion as well as people living with disability and children as
well. We have different initiatives for all these demographic groups,” he
added.
He stated that the fifth pillar
is on Strengthening Cyber Security and Enhancing Digital Trust because it was
important to build the trust of Nigerians through the development of legal
frameworks for digital signatures and public key infrastructures.
Revealing the sixth pillar as
Nurturing an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Inuwa asserted that
investing in talents will create many innovative solutions for the health care,
education and financial inclusion challenges the country is currently
experiencing.
He mentioned that the seventh and
eighth pillars are Forging Strategic Partnership & Collaboration, and
Institutional Reform respectively, the NITDA DG stated that the agency’s
willingness to build strategic partnerships with the visitors as well as
building skill sets and cultivation of employee mindsets in carving a
formidable agency.
“We believe we can learn from you
and other organisations through strategic partnership and collaboration so that
we can build strong institutions in Nigeria and Africa”, he concluded.
In her earlier remark, Ms.
Yameogo expressed her excitement at collaborating with NITDA in the promotion
and sustenance of the country’s digital economy.
She remarked that their priority
area of interest is in the digital economy, stating that the developmental
impact it can bring in terms of job creation, reducing regional disparities,
creating opportunities for private investment and bringing more private capital
into the country cannot be overemphasized.
Yameogo explained that digital
infrastructure is an area that needs more attention, she maintained that it is
an area where private investors can intervene in terms of Agri tech, Creative
tech and Health care tech.
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