The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on Nigerian Youths to leverage digital skills for economic growth
The NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa made the call during a Digital Summit themed: “Digital Technology: Key to sustainable Future,“ held in Ogun state South West, Nigeria.
He enumerated efforts of the Nigerian Government to achieve its target of 95% Digital Literacy by 2030 through the creation of an enabling environment and legislation among others, which he stressed are all geared toward ensuring young innovators and entrepreneurs in the country thrive in their chosen fields.
“In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari redesignated the Ministry to cover Digital Economy, what that action entails is that the Federal Government is interested in the strength of your ingenuity and wants you to leverage on Information Technology (IT) for economic prosperity. The action also puts Nigeria on the digital map of the global economy.“
Inuwa encouraged youths to see technology as the present and future of today’s world.
“When you talk about innovation and technology, human talents constitute the major components to drive the two, as such, we need universities, institutions and corporate organizations to be part of the system because they play a key role of producing the needed talents that can solve identified problems the society”, Inuwa noted.
The Director General recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari also unveiled the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria which is a foundation policy for the digital economy and digital Innovation.
He pointed out that NITDA, on its part, drafted the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to help them succeed.
Inuwa analysed the seven pillars of the document where he mentioned that the essence of the Digital Literacy and Skills Pillar is to ensure that 95% of Nigerians are digitally inclined, understand and enjoy digital services.
Inuwa added that the bigger picture is to build the Nation’s digital services in the country and not to buy off-the-shelf services elsewhere.
He however challenged the youths to think globally while solving local problems.
“The government cannot give everyone seed funds or grants at the same time, which is the reason why you need to think outside the box and have something an investor would be interested in, that way, you would have had the needed funds to grow your products and services without the encumbrances of the sometimes tiring government bureaucracies,” he advised.
The NITDA Boss expressed the hope that some participants would be among the 1 million developers the agency plans to train in 18 months.
“Globally, there is a shortage of talents, so, we are creating a mandate to develop a talent strategy because we have a competitive advantage as a country with our vast human and natural resources. Nigeria can seize the opportunity to fill that gap.
“Digital technology provides the source of inspiration for you to be a great innovator and solve any problem you can think of.”
Inuwa informed the participants that the Start-up Bill would be implemented by NITDA and other relevant agencies to address most, if not all the bottlenecks experienced in the ecosystem.
Acting on the agency’s mandate, the Director General made a commitment to provide a Digital Centre for St. Peters Anglican Primary School at Isara, Remo North, Ogun State
PIAK
