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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has affirmed commitment to supporting the software and innovation ecosystem in Lagos state.
NITDA met stakeholders in Lagos this week to further explore ways of strengthening the country’s digital economy by increasing contributions of ICT to GDP, promoting indigenous content through increasing patronage for indigenous
The Director General, NITDA, Kahisfu Inuwa Abdullahi, stated that a symbiotic relationship between the government and the players in the ecosystem was essential to achieving a collective desired result.
“Whatever the government is out to achieve, the private sector should help the government achieve it, and whatever the private sector is set to achieve, the government should help and support,” said Abdullahi who was represented by the Agency’s Digital Economy Department Acting Director, Salisu Kaka.
Abdullahi disclosed that the engagement was geared at interacting with the stakeholders to identify challenges faced by the ecosystem and proffering solutions to them. He emphasized the need to map out a partnership framework between the agency and the ecosystem in addressing these identified challenges.
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He urged stakeholders in the software and innovation ecosystem to harness these resources for optimal productivity.
“We are here to listen to you, and I am positive that today will be a historical day where we co-create and re-identify our routes in bridging identified gaps and creating a bright future,” said Abdullahi.
The Acting Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Yakubu Musa, while intimating the ecosystem stakeholders on the realignment of the former specially purpose vehicles (SPVs), introduced the strategic intents of the ONDI as well as initiatives.
“The ONDI has been mandated to work with the ecosystem to design and implement strategic programs and initiatives that will drive and foster the ecosystem’s growth through interventions and addressing some of the issues being faced in the ecosystem,” he said.
The President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, while giving a recap of contributions made by all heads of industries, groups, and associations present, thanked the agency for the insightful event but clamoured for a more effective communication and transparency.
