By 
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is leading the charge for Nigeria’s adoption of blockchain and other emerging technologies to drive its digital economy; and also enhance the national gross domestic product (GDP).
According to the Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi,“Developing countries like Nigeria can increase our GDP by at least 0.5 percent, which is almost 25 billion US dollars. So today we are here to explore how we can position ourselves. The government has been doing it. It is on site. We have developed the blockchain adoption strategies.
“The strategy outlines the roadmap and schemes for the adoption of blockchain technology by the government in the digital transformation agenda in a way that supports efficiency, transparency, and productivity.”
RELATED: NITDA shares country’s roadmap with experts at Dubai’s blockchain gathering
He said developing nations including Nigeria could benefit from the 1.76 trillion USD blockchain market once they can adopt and leverage on emerging technologies. He was speaking in Abuja during a blockchain panel session at the just ended Digital Nigeria International Conference Exhibitions and Awards.
Blockchain “pushes for the emergence of digital transparency and integrity, leading to extensive changes in business models and governmental functions,” said Abdullahi.
He added: “Innovators are exploring ways to use blockchain technologies to disrupt and transform traditional process models. Blockchain technology can lead to new opportunities and benefit industries through greater transparency. It can enhance security and easier traceability. Governments and businesses all over the world have begun to utilise the robust potential usability of Blockchain.”
He said “NITDA is not left behind; we are inclined to employ our statutory responsibility towards innovative technologies to develop strategies for a healthy IT ecosystem that encapsulate emerging technology such as blockchain”.
COVER PICTURE: L-R: NITDA boss Abdullahi, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, and the Chairman, NITDA’s Governing Board, Dr Abubakar Sa’id at Digital Nigeria
