NITDA Director-General Calls for Collaborative Tech Development in Africa

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Nigeria, Kashifu Inuwa, has urged experts and start-ups in the technology ecosystem to collaborate with the government on co-creating robust regulations that will advance human and infrastructure development, unlocking Africa’s vast potential for sustainable growth.

Inuwa made this call at the second edition of the annual Moonshot Tech Conference 2024, which featured the brightest minds in the African tech space at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

In his paper titled “Building Digital Economies for the World: How African Countries are Shaping Their Tech Economies to Compete Across the Continent and Globally,” Inuwa highlighted the importance of balancing innovation and regulation, explaining that innovation involves transforming ideas into impactful solutions.

However, he noted that while innovation thrives on creativity, regulation must serve as a guardrail to ensure stability.

He stated: “At NITDA, we developed an intelligent regulatory framework that will help us understand the terrain before implementing regulations. We need a regulation that enhances our understanding of what you are trying to build, recognises the value you are bringing to the market, and is dynamic, creating space for people to navigate.”

Inuwa emphasised the vital role of collaboration between governments and the private sector to unlock local human capital on the continent, pointing out that Africa’s greatest asset in the tech ecosystem is its human capital.

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The Director-General further clarified: “According to a World Bank report, by the year 2030, there will be a talent deficit of 85 million globally, which, if left unaddressed, could result in $8.5 trillion in unrealised annual value.”

“So, in Africa, considering our young population, we can harness this demographic and position ourselves as the global talent factory to bridge this gap,” he added.

While stressing the need for governments in Africa to educate people about the potential of the technology ecosystem—not just for solving local problems but also for addressing global challenges—Inuwa noted that the Nigeria Startup Act was co-created with the tech ecosystem to encourage venture capital, the registration of innovation hubs, and the formation of a council to promote local capital investments.

To strengthen Africa’s digital economy, he advocated for the “need to build the digital infrastructure that will enable us to share content within Africa and foster data flow across borders.”

Other co-panellists who shared valuable insights alongside Inuwa included Dr Augustina Odame, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Technology; David Manley, Chief Advisor on Technology in Sierra Leone; and Marieme Kane, Director of Innovation at the Ministry of Digital Transformation in Mauritania.