By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, North
To propel and build a robust technology research ecosystem that aligns with the present administration’s redefined priorities to accelerate diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, and innovation, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has said that Nigeria is empowered digitally and thriving on innovation and inclusive economic growth through technology.
This is borne in a press statement, to which Cyber Era NG is privy, coming from the Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar.
As per the press statement, Mallam Abdullahi made this remark at a workshop themed “Intel AI programme for Africa Deep-Tech startups, Ecosystem stakeholders” which was organised by Afrilabs and Intelin Abuja.
Abdullahi added that, “for us to succeed as a nation there is need for synergy, andwe must strongly believe that the best solution emerges from collaborative efforts, harnessing diverse talents, expertise, and perspectives of the robust ecosystem for the advancement of the country”.
He noted that our problem in Africa was about implementation processes, and added that, “we need to have strong institutions to implement these policies and strategies for the realisation of our goals and objectives”.
He opined that there was need to work together to build policies and regulations that would be beneficial and flexible to implement through proper coordination attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Speaking on NITDA’s commitment towards the implementation of diverse initiatives and policies, Abdullahi stated that it had attracted 6 African countries and other government institutions to visit and understudy for replication to change the conventional way of doing things.
Providing insights into NITDA’s strategic direction, he mentioned the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027) 2.0, structured around eight pillars which include Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talents, Building a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem, Strengthening Policy Implementation and Legal Frameworks, Promoting Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services, Enhancing Cybersecurity and Digital Trust, Nurturing an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Forging Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations, and Cultivating a Vibrant Organisational Culture with an Agile Workforce.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of Afrilabs, Ajibola Odukoya stated that driving innovation economy in Africa by power of our communities would bring about the cultivation of high potential entrepreneurs who would become catalysts for economic growth and social development in Africa.
The workshop was aimed at finding solutions to research carried out on evaluating the deep tech ecosystem in Africa and why it lacked tailored support for the growth of startups in the sector.
Odukoya added that Artificial intelligence (AI) was a tool that would bridge Africa and the world and needed to consider Africa towards building AI frameworks and libraries to showcase African perspectives and zeal in problem-solving.
