By Chukwuma Umeorah
As part of efforts to promote diversity in Nigeria’s technology sector, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kachifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has underscored the role of the National Digital Gender Inclusion strategy aimed at strengthening women participation in the advancement of technology in the country.
Abdullahi while speaking to newsmen at the 2023 Global Tech Africa (GTA) conference in Lagos, recognised the essential role women play in technology and innovation.
He added that the NITDA was developing an initiative to develop talents of the younger population with particular focus at grassroot level. “The Tech Naija Club, conceptualized at this conference, will provide a tech club in all 774 local governments in Nigeria to encourage things like hackathons, innovation challenge/competition, mentorship and provide leadership at the grassroot level. We aim to use this initiative to crack national problems at local government level, state, regional and at national level.”
This is even as he emphasized the significance of human capital in Nigeria. “Our greatest resource is our people. That’s why we are crafting the National Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy to ensure women are an integral part of all our endeavours,” he explained.
Highlighting steps already taken by the commission, Abdullahi noted that, “The National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) with an ambitious target to achieve 95 per cent digital literacy in Nigeria. We also have the Tech Talent initiative where we intend to develop the capacity of our citizens to build digital services and products in the country and also to make Nigeria become a talent net exporter.
“The government is committed, NITDA in particular. Advancing the tech space in Nigeria is in line with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu administration. We have partnered with Global Tech Africa (GTA) as the official sponsor because they have set the stage for the advancement of technology in the country by bringing together key players from across the globe. We also encourage other ecosystem players to reach out to the government for public private partnerships.
Our approach is to build a solid ecosystem, this is because the realization of digital transformation and its potential is not in individual success but through an ecosystem approach. That is why we want to carry everyone along because technology today is no longer luxury, but a necessity.”
On the issue of infrastructure, he said that NITDA was working to improve existing standards and the policies as well as building the Digital Public Infrastructure that would be the foundation for start-ups and innovators to build government digital services.
Speaking on the significance of the Conference, Member Global Tech Africa Team, Emmanuel MTarfa emphasized its role in attracting global attention to Nigeria’s tech business ecosystem. “Delegates from across the world are excited to assess Nigeria’s tech potential. Deals have been signed, and the enlightenment is deepening. Moreover, we are now going to have data mapping included in Nigeria’s Startup Act, powered by NITDA,” he announced.
Julian Klockner, a German politician and member of the German National Parliament, added an international perspective to the discourse. Stressing the need for deeper collaboration, she highlighted the importance of exchanging knowledge between countries and combining theoretical understanding with practical, hands-on experience.