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Learning and research institutions need to rework their approach to seeking and impacting knowledge, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has stressed.
Abdullahi spoke during a recent visit of the management of Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa state to NITDA in Abuja. The visit was led by its rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan Ahmad.
“We need to change the conventional way of teaching and the way we do things. Polytechnics are strategic institutions that serve as the engine room of technological development aimed at creating jobs and revenue generation flow across the country,” said the NIITDA’s boss. .
He added: “There is need to reengineer the skills and tools being used to suit the current trend of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain technology, cloud and edge computing and other related technologies. We need to create an economy for the ecosystem to develop the needs and wants of the society.”
According to him, “the National Information Technology Development Fund Scheme (NITDEF) which sponsors individuals abroad to study in various IT related fields has been put on hold for us look inwards, this is to enable more investments in human skills acquisition which will directly or indirectly create jobs across the country bringing about revenue flow.”
He said NITDA has executed many IT intervention schemes in several learning institutions across the country aimed at building knowledge and capacities of Nigerians.
He assured the polytechnic team of NITDA’s willingness to support and collaborate with the institution towards deepening IT knowedge among students.
“We can work together to bring out a game changer for the growth and development of the country, we need to work hand in hand to achieve both the agency’s mandates and that of the institution,” he added.
Dr Ahmed commended the NITDA’s boss for the various initiatives of the agency attesting that the initiatives could enable the development of the economy as ICT sector is increasingly contributing to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
“Our desire as an institution is to become a reference point in terms of ICT infrastructure and standard training facilities that can adequately cater for the staff and students of the institution”, said. Ahmed
“Considering the mandate of the agency and that of the institution which is naturally designed to work together for Nigeria to achieve the desired and designed ICT targets for the nation’s growth and development on IT by extension growth and development in other spheres of life”, he added.
