NITDA encourages Partnership with Tech Innovators to enhance Productivity

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has emphasised the need to partner with  indigenous Innovators to enhance productivity and  address challenges faced in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.

This is in furtherance to strengthening the country’s digital economy  through promoting and patronising indigenous  IT products as well as  services, which will in turn increase the  contributions of ICT to Nigeria’s  GDP.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), today organised Stakeholders Engagement Programme with the theme; ‘Creating Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries: Towards Digitalization and Entrepreneurial Evolution in Lagos, Lagos State. pic.twitter.com/U38SccHjdo

— NITDA Nigeria (@NITDANigeria) February 8, 2022

This formed part of the discuss at NITDA’s engagement with the Lagos State Software and Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholders, in South-West, Nigeria.

The Director-General, NITDA Kahisfu Inuwa,  represented by the Acting Director, Digital Economy Department, Mr. Salisu Kaka reiterated that the engagement was geared at interacting with the stakeholders to identify challenges faced by the ecosystem and proffering solutions to them.

Inuwa stressed that a symbiotic relationship between the Government and the players in the ecosystem was essential to achieve a collective desired result.

“Whatever the government is out to achieve, the private sector should help the government achieve it, and whatever the private sector is set to achieve, the government should help and support,” he stated.

Speaking on the vast amount of human and natural resources amassed by the Nation, the Director General urged stakeholders in the Software and Innovation ecosystem to harness and utilize these resources for optimal productivity.

Inuwa admonished all participants to freely critique constructively, challenge what needs to be challenged, and also give recommendations on how the challenges faced can be surmounted.

“We are here to listen to you, and I am positive that today will be a historical day where we co-create and re-identify our routes in bridging identified gaps and creating a bright future,” he said

He expressed his pleasure at the turnout and appreciated all innovators present despite their busy schedules.

The Acting Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation, ONDI, Yakubu Musa, while intimating the ecosystem stakeholders on the realignment of the former Specially Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), introduced the strategic intents of the ONDI as well as initiatives.

“The ONDI has been mandated to work with the ecosystem to design and implement strategic programs and  initiatives that will drive and foster the ecosystem’s growth through interventions and addressing some of the issues being faced in the ecosystem,” he averred.

Musa identified strategic human capital development; funding and support to the ecosystem; research and insights ;monitoring and compliance; partnerships and implementation of guidelines as   focus areas in which the Agency is willing to collaborate with the stakeholders in creating a formidable and enviable ecosystem.

The President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria  Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu while giving a recap of contributions made by all heads of Industries, Groups, and Associations present, thanked the Agency for the insightful event but clamoured for a more effective communication and transparency.