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As part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA), the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has unveiled the new NITDA’s Strategic Road Map and Action Plan (SRAP) 2021 -2024.
Also at the ceremony with the theme: “Celebrating Growth and Resilience,” the Director General of NITDA Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, enumerated on the achievement of the IT regulatory and development agency stating that it has achieved 100% of its mandate, impacted positively and directly on more than 2.5million Nigerians in its two decades of existence.
The ceremony featured the NITDA’s 20th Anniversary Public Lecture delivered by CEO, Consultancy Support Services Limited, Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola.
The new roadmap is designed around the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), developed to reposition the Nigerian economy in order to take advantage of the many opportunities that digital technologies provide. The NDEPS itself is fostered around 8-pillars for the acceleration of the National Digital Economy – all of which are aligned with the ‘Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and its successor Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan of the Federal Government as well as the priorities assigned to the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.’
NITDA SRAP focused on rapid transformation of digital economy – Pantami
According to the NITDA, “the NITDA SRAP 2021 – 2024 is driven by three-pronged objectives, which are:
“1. To articulate a new strategy for NITDA in consonance with the current aspirations of Government, the realities of today and the demands of the future;
“2. To contribute its quota towards the implementation of NDEPS especially within the framework of its mandate; and
“3. To implement programs that would facilitate the digital transformation of Nigeria.”
The NITDA SRAP captures the implementable policies and actions that will guide from 2021 to 2024.
“I am happy that NITDA has taken the bold step of mapping its 2021 to 2024 strategy to the Presidential mandate and Ministerial directive, taking cognisance of its mandate and aligning it squarely with the NDEPS. The implementation of the NITDA strategy will not only ensure the development, usage, and sustainability of digital technologies but will also deepen Nigeria’s economy digitally, diversify the economy, promote innovation and lift millions out of poverty,” said the minister while commending the director genera l of NITDA and his team.
“The NITDA SRAP is focused on the facilitation of a rapid transformation of the digital economy through elaborate stakeholder collaborations in the implementation of the NDEPS. All the pillars of the Roadmap and their objectives require extensive collaborations for their actualisation,” the minister added.
NITDA setting new targets, impacting on more lives – Abdullahi
On the same note, Abdullahi stated: “Twenty years is a significant milestone in the life of any institution. Some of the biggest companies in the world today were established in the last twenty years or less. Therefore, it is critical for NITDA to introspect its past and project into the future, set new targets, and improve for the better. As I mentioned earlier, today’s event is twofold. The first part will review the purpose of NITDA’s existence and reflect on the journey so far, and the second part will unveil the next phase of the journey.
“There is no doubt that NITDA has made a difference and touched the lives of more than 2.5 million Nigerians. Our impact is visible across the country, and this can be attested to by the outcomes. Just recently, our sector, the ICT sector bailed Nigeria out of a COVID-induced recession that was predicted to crush the Nigerian spirit. We have attracted more foreign investments into the digital economy sector than any developing country globally. Our developmental regulations have created new economic industry such as business process outsourcing, data protection and a robust software industry.”
