By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, North
In order to emplace strategic partnerships and collaboration for the advancement of Nigeria’s digital transformation Agenda, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has reiterated the need for a safe and inclusive online environment responsible for human and Artificial Intelligence (AI) practices in Nigeria.
Mallam Abdullahi said this while hosting a team from TikTok who visited the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, north central, Nigeria, to seek alliance towards strengthning the country, which syncs with one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priority areas of fortifying national security for peace and prosperity.
Abdullahi stated that content moderation strategies would help in addressing online problems like hate speech, misinformation, and cyberbullying in relation to the protection of minors across the country.
“With the Code of practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries in place, this has helped in ensuring digital safety in accordance with global best practice and content moderation to enhance security”, he said.
He stated further that no organisation or institution could operate in silos and that we needed each other for the actualisation of our goals and objectives towards services delivery and for the advancement of the Nation.
The NITDA boss stated that leveraging on the platform would advance the country through Digital Literacy 4 All (DL4ALL), Capacity Building, knowledge sharing, trainings, curbing misinformation and digital safety with the aim of creating a safer cyber space and empowering online environment for Nigerian users.
He added that the platform allowed for creative expression through filters, stickers, and editing tools, entertainment and comedy were dominant themes, and informational videos on various topics were gaining traction which had become a launchpad for influencers and trends that could go viral.
According to Abdullahi, NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2024-2027) was structured around eight pillars which included: 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.
Earlier, the Head of Government Regulation and Public Policy TikTok Nigeria and West Africa, Mrs Tokunbo Ibrahim said that NITDA was one of its biggest and critical stakeholders in Nigeria that had made outstanding strides and performance in advancing the digital economy sector.
Mrs. Ibrahim commended NITDA for its various initiatives, programmes, and policies that aligned with that of TikTok, providing the opportunity where Nigerians used the platform to market, sell and export their products and services as well as talents to the outside world and make a living out of it.
She pointed out that there were projects and programmes that TikTok platform had forged ties of collaboration with, like the Africa creator hub where they did campaigns for tech creator, support, empower, and educate them on how to create contents and explore other sections of the platform, changing their narrative and adding values to what they were doing.
She added that TikTok platform considered online safety as one of its critical areas to secure the cyber space by providing an avenue for users to thrive and be productive in their various activities.
