Nigeria To Thrive On Innovation, Inclusive Economic Growth Through Technology—NITDA

Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), stated that Nigeria is digitally empowered and thrives on innovation and inclusive economic growth through technology.

Inuwa spoke at a workshop in Abuja organised by Afrilabs and Intel on the theme of “Intel AI programme for Africa Deep-Tech startups, Ecosystem stakeholders.”

He continued, “For us to succeed as a nation, there is a need for synergy, and we must strongly believe that the best solution emerges from collaborative efforts, harnessing the diverse talents, expertise, and perspectives of the robust ecosystem for the advancement of the country.”

Inuwa stated that the issue in Africa is with implementation processes, adding that “we need strong institutions to implement these policies and strategies for the realisation of our goals and objectives.”

He believes that there is a need to collaborate to develop policies and regulations that are beneficial and flexible to implement through proper coordination and the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Inuwa spoke about NITDA’s commitment to implementing diverse initiatives and policies, stating that it has invited six African countries and other government institutions to visit and study for replication to change the conventional way of doing things.

Inuwa provided insights into NITDA’s strategic direction by mentioning 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

Speaking earlier, Mr Ajibola Odukoya, Chief Operating Officer of Afrilabs, stated that driving an innovation economy in Africa through the power of communities will result in the cultivation of high-potential entrepreneurs who will serve as catalysts for economic growth and social development in Africa.

The workshop aimed to find solutions to research conducted on evaluating the deep tech ecosystem in Africa, which revealed a lack of tailored support for the growth of startups in the sector.

Odukoya went on to say that artificial intelligence (AI) is a tool that will connect Africa to the rest of the world and that Africa should be considered when developing AI frameworks and libraries to showcase African perspectives and zeal in problem-solving.