NITDA INGEMINATE FORESIGHT FOR DIGITAL GROWTH, INCLUSIVENESS IN NIGERIA

NITDA INGEMINATE FORESIGHT FOR DIGITAL GROWTH, INCLUSIVENESS IN NIGERIA

ALIMOTU SHADIAT

As part of its unwavering commitment to elevating Nigeria to premier status in the global digital economy by harnessing the potential of digital innovation to drive national prosperity and inclusivity, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated its strategic foresight and agility towards the sustainability of digital growth and inclusiveness in the country.

This was made known by the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE at the 3rd edition of the TeXcellence Conference themed, Revealing Tomorrow, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos State.The conference, which is hosted by CWG Plc, a Pan-African systems solutions company that specializes in an array of wide IT services is a platform for technology experts, business leaders, and innovators to share insights on the latest trends, developments and solutions in the tech space.

In his address, the DG who was represented by the agency’s Director of the Stakeholder Management and Partnerships department, Dr Aristotle Onumo, outlined the agency’s efforts and its digital roadmap encapsulated in the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0 2024-2027.

The focus of his address which was Policy to Implementation: Collaborative Approach to National Digital Growth, emphasised that NITDA has a digital social contract with the community which is structured around 8 strategic pillars.“What we have been doing at the agency is to have a digital social contract with the community which is encapsulated in a document we call the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 which was developed based on the needs of the society to empower Nigerians and to foster economic development,” he mentioned.

Inuwa disclosed that the agency’s vision is to make Nigeria a digitally empowered nation, fostering inclusive economic growth through technological innovation and it has realigned its structure, recalibrated its systems and relaunched its strategy to better align with the federal government’s vision and goals of its supervising ministry.

“Our approach is grounded in the principles of clarity, collective responsibility, and a commitment to challenging the status quo. This will help us achieve our goal of transforming Nigeria’s digital landscape,” he added.He gave deep insights into the 8 strategic pillars of the document while emphasising the opportunities they bring, their strategic importance, implementation focus and their success indicators.

While speaking on the implementation of SRAP 2.0, Inuwa stressed the importance of adapting to the rapidly evolving global digital landscape which has shaped economies worldwide and opined that NITDA is positioning Nigeria to be at the forefront of digital transformation.

“Our strategy is grounded in legislative and policy frameworks, addresses socio-economic disparities, and confronts cybersecurity challenges, and our goal is to establish Nigeria as a leader in digital literacy and tech talent, ensuring Nigerians are well-equipped for the digital era,” he said.

Noting that bridging digital gaps, gender imbalance and accommodating people living with special needs as critical cornerstones in all the agency’s initiatives towards building inclusiveness, Inuwa sought collaborations and partnerships in supporting 6 indigenous tech events in the country to global relevance.

“Collaboration and partnership is a gateway to economic prosperity and a foundational element to maximise impact, digital innovation ecosystem is our frame of play, our 8 pillars represent our wins, our leadership is resolute, strong, agile and dynamic and our strategy is creating digital value for the future through regulatory insight so I implore you all to join us to create a new digital future for Nigeria,” he concluded.