By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has reiterated the critical role of innovation in driving Nigeria’s sustainable development, economic diversification, and global competitiveness, Cyber Era NG learns.
According to a news release e-signed by the Director of Corporate Communications and External Relations at NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar, Mallam Abdullahi made this remark while delivering a keynote address at the 8th Annual Research Fair and Exhibition of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), north central, Nigeria, where he called on academia, industry leaders, and policymakers to embrace disruptive transformational innovation as a tool for addressing the nation’s challenges and unlocking its immense potential.
Speaking on the theme, “Disruptive Transformational Innovation; Shaping the Future,” Abdullahi commended NSUK for organising an event that aligned with Nigeria’s pursuit of growth through knowledge-driven solutions. Abdullahi who was represented by the Deputy Director, eGovernment and Digital Economy Development Department at NITDA, Engr. Ya’u Garba, applauded the university’s increasing focus on transformation, noting that such initiatives reflected an understanding of the need for impactful innovations to address real-world issues.
Abdullahi emphasised that while inventions remained a cornerstone of academic inquiry, their significance lied in their ability to move beyond theoretical exploration to become practical innovations. These innovations, he explained, had the power to reshape industries, tackle societal challenges, and accelerate national progress.
He urged institutions to prioritise creativity and bold thinking, ensuring that research outputs translated into tangible benefits for society.
Explaining the concept of disruptive transformational innovation, Abdullahi described it as a profound force capable of altering established systems, processes, and products in ways that redefined societal functions. Unlike incremental innovations, which focused on improving existing frameworks, disruptive innovations introduce entirely new paradigms, addressing challenges in groundbreaking and previously unimaginable ways.
The NITDA boss cited historical examples such as the Printing Press, the Steam Engine, and Electricity, which had significantly transformed human existence and set the foundation for modern development.
He pointed out that Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources presented a unique opportunity to harness innovation for sustainable development and called for a collaborative approach involving academia, industries, and government to build an environment that nurtured creativity, supported bold investments, and encouraged inclusive growth. Such an ecosystem, he said, was vital for fostering homegrown innovations that could propel Nigeria to the forefront of global technological and economic advancements.
He further highlighted NITDA’s dedication to fostering innovation through various initiatives, including the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) to digitally transform the agricultural sector, the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy to enhance digital trust and transparency, and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy aimed at building a robust AI ecosystem in the country, among other impactful projects, which were part of the Federal Government broader strategy to position Nigeria as a leader in the global knowledge economy.
Abdullahi also urged NSUK to deepen its commitment to innovation by establishing hubs that supported facility-led startups, fostering collaborations with industry stakeholders, and equipping students with essential technological skills. He noted that such efforts would not only empower the university community but also contribute significantly to national development.
He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to not only adopt global innovations but also create groundbreaking solutions that could influence the trajectory of Africa and the world.
He called on all stakeholders in the country to embrace the transformative power of innovation in order to drive sustainable development, economic diversification, and global relevance.
