The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), says Nigeria needs to harness the skills and resources of its citizens in the diaspora to sustain the country’s digital economy
The NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa who stated this in Abuja, during a courtesy visit by the Continental of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe (NIDOE), Bashir Obasekola added that this could be achieved through partnerships with Nigerians living outside the country.
Inuwa represented at the meeting by the agency’s Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, Usman Gambo Abdullahi, further explained that fostering partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora would enable the government to tap into the vast opportunities offered by its citizens to provide a deeper sense of purpose to national development.
“NIDOE is the second largest Nigerians in diaspora organization across the world, and you being here is the beginning of a relationship we have been hoping to build.”
The NITDA Boss noted that partnering with NIDOE will provide a foundation that can be built on for further collaborations with Nigerians in the diaspora.
He added that through its Research and Development department, the agency has developed a Brain Circulation Strategic Program for 2023 by networking with people in the diaspora to drive the Research and Development ecosystem of the country.
“Individually, Nigerians in the diaspora are making efforts and driving good initiatives but collectively, we can work to sustain all these initiatives which is why, in developing our regulatory instruments, we have open invitations for volunteers across the world.”
He disclosed that the Code of Practice for social media, the National Artificial Intelligence Policy, the National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS) and the National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS) are initiatives of the agency undergoing stakeholders’ engagement – all of which have drawn the interests of Nigerians in the diaspora.
Citing the LEAP event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where two Nigerian startups won a $300,000 grant as an example, He said the engagement with NIDOE would further improve the flow of foreign direct investments into the country.
The NIDOE Boss lauded the NITDA for its contributions to the growth of the nation’s economy and assured him that his organisation would collaborate with the agency through effective training, mentoring, consultancy, investment and funding in areas of IT Research and Development, Cybersecurity, amongst other initiatives.
PIAK
