Science
NITDA’s Kashifu Inuwa Sheds Light on Africa’s Digital Future As UNGA Panelist
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, participated as a key panelist in a thought-provoking session titled “Digital Transformation in Africa: Jumping Ten Years in One.” The high-profile event, hosted by the Consulate of Denmark in New York, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and cBrain, brought together global leaders to explore how Africa can harness digital technology to leap ahead in its economic and social transformation.
The panel focused on government-led digital transformation initiatives and best practices that African countries can adopt to accelerate growth. It highlighted the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors and the immense potential of digital technologies to position Africa as the next frontier for the global workforce. Africa’s young, vibrant population and rapid technology adoption were identified as key drivers for the continent’s potential to lead in the digital age.
In his address, “Kashifu Inuwa shared valuable insights from NITDA’s ongoing digital transformation efforts in Nigeria. He emphasized the agency’s vision of fostering a knowledge-based economy by promoting innovation and technology-driven solutions in governance, education, and business.
“Our focus is on creating an enabling environment for digital innovation,” Inuwa said. “By investing in infrastructure, skills development, and policy frameworks, we are positioning Nigeria as a hub for technology in Africa. Our digital transformation efforts have not only improved efficiency in government services but also created new opportunities for the private sector, especially startups.”
Inuwa noted that Africa’s digital journey is unique, with countries having the opportunity to leapfrog traditional development stages and embrace cutting-edge technology. He also stressed the need for collaboration, both within Africa and with international partners, to ensure sustainable digital growth across the continent.
The panelists agreed that with the right leadership, investment, and partnerships, Africa could harness the full potential of digital technologies, making the continent a leading player in the global digital economy. With initiatives like NITDA’s, African nations can navigate the digital future effectively, ensuring inclusivity and long-term development.
This event at the UNGA was a reminder of the critical role digital transformation plays in driving not only economic progress but also social change across Africa. As technology continues to evolve, the continent’s commitment to digital innovation and collaboration is set to propel it into a new era of growth and prosperity.
BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM
The Nigerian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ericsson to establish a framework of cooperation on 5G technology development, deployment and innovation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 5G is the fifth generation of cellular networks. Up to 100 times faster than 4G. 5G has created never-before-seen opportunities for people and businesses
The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria while Mr Peter Olusoji Ogundele, Country Manager, Ericsson Nigeria, signed for the company.
The MoU, which was signed at the Ericsson’s Global Headquarters Research and Development lab in Kista, North of Stockholm was witnessed by the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.
Similarly, the signing of the MoU was witnessed by Mr Patrick Johansson, Ericsson Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Middle East and Africa.
Earlier, the company conducted the Vice-President Shettima on a demonstration-tour of its mobile communications infrastructure solutions.
The company also made a presentation to Shettima about its 5G technology evolution, radio spectrum matters and standardisation as well as Cyber and Network Security by Ericsson professionals.
Speaking after the presentation, Shettima asked the company on the possibility of deploying its 5G technology to help Nigeria improve the security of its oil facilities.
” What value can you add to us? Security of oil facilities, oil pipelines. How can you come in with 5G to secure the oil pipelines, address the issue of oil theft and vandalisation of the pipelines.
“The quantum of oil theft that is lifted is very crucial for economic planning and everything,” he said.
On his part, Tijani explained that the signing of the MoU would enable Nigeria to make the most use of 5G technologies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
” So we signed the MoU to set up an innovation lab with Ericsson, and the focus of that lab will be to come up with applications that is based on 5G technology.
” For things in agriculture, mining and in some cases in education as well for the general usage of connectivity to improve the quality of lives for our people.
” The Renewed Hope Agenda, in particular, goes into what we are trying to do with the reforms.
” The aim of the reforms is to diversify our economy and it is clear that we cannot diversify our economy without digital technology.
” With this MoU we can strengthen the state of connectivity, particularly 5G, you know Nigeria is already one of the few countries with 5G on the continent.
” With the MoU, we can continue to ensure the spread of 5G across the country not just in key locations and this is how we can ensure that we see the growth that we want to see in our economy,” he said.
Tijani described the visit of the Vice-President Shettima to Sweden as ” extremely important to the growth and development of Nigeria’s digitisation drive process.
” But I have to speak to the strength of Sweden as a country and how the visit of the Vice-President is extremely important.
” This is a country that built the use of technology to lift front development. It’s a country that is extremely powerful in technology and business.
” They have significant brands likes Volvo, Ericsson, they are global brands.
” And I think for the reforms that is going on in the country and ambition to raise the level of productivity and make our economy more competitive.
” It is important that we used the strength of the VP and this visit, to truly deepen the relationship and that is what the VP has done with all the meetings that he had,” he said.
Dignitaries that witnessed the signing of the MoU were; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communication Commission, Aminu Maida, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.
Others are Mr Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Malam Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Charge d’affaires, Nigerian Embassy, Sweden, Malam Aliyu Mahmud; among others. (NAN)
Science
NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Engages with Startup Genome Leaders to Enhance Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem at GITEX Global 2024
During GITEX Global 2024, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), held a pivotal meeting with the senior leadership of Startup Genome, including President Ravi Narayan, Managing Director of Hypergrowth Samantha Evans, and Chief Program Officer Mike Jackson. This significant dialogue aimed to establish strategic partnerships to harness Nigeria’s immense untapped potential in technology and innovation.
Recognized as Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria boasts a dynamic startup ecosystem. With the backing of prominent international organizations like Startup Genome, the country’s technological landscape is set to reach new heights. The discussions centered on how NITDA and Startup Genome can collaborate to enhance infrastructure, cultivate talent pipelines, and grant Nigerian startups access to global markets.
Kashifu Inuwa highlighted the critical role of these partnerships in aligning with NITDA’s vision for fostering digital innovation and economic transformation. He stated, “Nigeria is on the brink of a digital revolution. By collaborating with global tech leaders like Startup Genome, we can cultivate a flourishing ecosystem that drives growth, attracts investment, and enables our startups to compete on a global scale.”
The leadership at Startup Genome echoed this optimism, with President Ravi Narayan expressing, “We recognize the vast potential within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and are eager to partner with NITDA to accelerate the growth of startups in the region.”
This meeting marks a significant advancement in positioning Nigeria as a global tech hub, with initiatives that could lead to substantial job creation, economic progress, and technological innovation. The next steps will involve both organizations working together to identify key development sectors and ensuring that Nigerian entrepreneurs are equipped with the necessary tools and resources to expand their ventures internationally.
As the global community observes, Nigeria is poised to emerge as a leading player in Africa’s digital transformation, with the collaboration between NITDA and Startup Genome serving as a potential catalyst for this evolution.
Science
NITDA Participates In Tokenized Economy 2024, Promotes Real-World Asset Tokenisation in Nigeria’s Digital Economy
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), represented by Engr. Salisu Kaka, Director of e-Government and Digital Economy Development Department, took part in the Tokenized Economy 2024 event, organized by Cyberchain in collaboration with Baze University. The event, focused on Real-World Assets Tokenisation, was also supported by NITDA and gathered top professionals from Nigeria and Africa’s Tech and Web3 ecosystems.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, Engr. Kaka highlighted the growing importance of asset tokenization in driving digital transformation across various sectors. He noted that the tokenized economy offers new possibilities for value exchange, transparency, and efficiency, benefiting industries ranging from agriculture to finance, healthcare, entertainment, and even government.
“Technology has become a critical tool for enhancing productivity in both the public and private sectors,” Engr. Kaka stated. “The ability to tokenize real-world assets represents a significant leap toward maximizing economic opportunities, improving operational efficiency, and fostering innovation in the digital economy.”
The event saw a convergence of leaders in the tech space, who discussed the impact of Web3 technologies in enabling more secure, decentralized, and transparent operations. As NITDA continues to support Nigeria’s digital economy, the Agency remains committed to promoting policies and initiatives that advance the integration of emerging technologies, especially in the fields of tokenization, blockchain, and digital assets.
By collaborating with key institutions such as Baze University and Cyberchain, NITDA reaffirms its goal of ensuring that Nigeria remains at the forefront of technological innovation in Africa.