U.S. pledges support for Nigeria’s digital transformation
The United States Consulate General in Lagos, Will Stevens, says the U.S. is committed to continue collaborating with Nigeria to promote digital transformation in the country.
Stevens stated this at the Global Tech Africa (GTA) 2023 with the theme, ‘Facilitating Investments in Africa’s Digital Economy,’ in Lagos.
He said Nigeria’s strive for digital transformation is commendable and assured that with such gusto the nation is exhibiting its digital transformation.
While commending Nigeria for various partnerships and collaborations it has forged with some American big tech companies, Stephen sued for continuous collaboration, while promising that America would ensure collaboration between both countries.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, predicted that Nigeria’s digital transformation future would be “brighter and also offers hope of being prosperous.”
The NITDA’s boss expressed this optimism in Lagos while delivering his keynote address, titled: ‘Implementing a National Digital Transformation Agenda.’
The conference, which provides a platform to bring together African and international stakeholders in technology to unlock growth opportunities for all, and build the tech ecosystem in Africa, was put together by Ascend Studio Foundation and in partnership with NITDA, the U.S. Consulate, Venture Garden Group, Business Sweden, and RivExcel Health.
Also Read: Nigeria Urged to Prioritise Digital Transformation for Economic Diversification
Abdullahi disclosed that Nigeria’s greatest resource on which he hinged his prediction on is Nigeria’s abundant human capital, which remains her greatest resource. He noted that many global reports have predicted that there would be a global talent crunch by 2030 that could affect the future of work but which Nigeria can explore to reimagine herself to become a global talent factory.
1. On Day 1 of the GTA Conference, Mr Abdulahi Kashifu, Director General, NITDA, in a keynote address titled ‘Implementing a National Digital Transformation Agenda’ emphasized the use of technology in enhancing productivity to change the narrative and move Africa’s Tech Ecosystem pic.twitter.com/xBUuB5Ayym
— Global Tech Africa (@GTAConference) November 17, 2023
He said: “It is evident that Nigeria is not just positioned to be the global talent factory, but we are also set for investment and global collaboration because all developed countries will suffer from that deficit, including the United States of America.
“But Nigeria, we have one of the youngest populations in the world. We have the largest population in Africa; the largest economy; we have the market, and we have the youth, and we have natural talent. So, if we position ourselves, we can bridge that global talent deficit, and we can benefit from the $8.5 trillion digital transformation of the global Gross Domestic Product, (GDP).”
According to Abdullahi, Nigeria’s focus is beyond the digital economy but the attainment of national digital transformation because of the pervasive nature of digital technology and its capacity to transform any industry power by digital technology. He emphasised that for the nation to benefit from this, “we need to position ourselves and design the economy to reap the benefit of digital transformation.”
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to accelerate the nation’s economy by diversifying it in a way that would enhance productivity across all sectors through digital innovation.
“Our mandate is not just about the digital economy but transformation of the digital space and how we can empower and enhance productivity across all sectors,” he noted.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Executive Trustee of Future Map Foundation, the convener of GTA, Ahmad Shuaibu, who was represented by Mrs. Farida Yahya disclosed that Africa would play pivotal roles in shaping the “unprecedented technological revolution” the world is currently witnessing.
