The Pantami Revolution in NITDA

By Uwa Suleiman

The Nigerian Information Technology industry, is no doubt experiencing a renaissance. A long overdue refocusing, readjustment and a rebirth. The new lease of life is neither an accident nor a passing phase but a conscious effort by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure square pegs are fixed in square holes and a determination on the part of the present Management team of NITDA led by the Director General, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, to pursue its mandate like never before, with professionalism and integrity as its watchwords.

Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FBCS took on the daunting task headlong and has never wavered or lost focus in spite of the odds. At forty four, the Director General of NITDA has displayed an outstanding example of leadership, professionalism, integrity, discipline, maturity and commitment to service that is unprecedented in the history of the Agency. As a matter of fact, very few public office holders can uphold the standards he has set and maintained.

“Guidelines regarding importation of IT infrastructure are in full effect so much so that in the last few months, compliance among MDAs has reached an unprecedented all time high. There is a mutual understanding between NITDA and stakeholders that a violation attracts a penalty.”

Dr Pantami has brought to bear, all his vast competencies in various fields to his present office. His expertise in conflict resolution was felt not just within the Agency, but the industry as a whole when he took up the task of mending fences between warring parties who had hitherto, been sworn enemies and thus, paved the way for genuine reconciliation and real progress in the industry for according to him, “there is no way the industry can thrive and lead the country to economic prosperity while rancor exists within.”

Pantami with Professors Youngchae Song and Park Hdng Kook from the Saugmyung University South Korea inside NITDA meeting on revisiting the MoU signed in 2015 between NITDA and the National Information Agency of Korea (NIA) for the deployment of eGovFrame, an infrastructure environment for implementing application Software.

An astute and distinguished scholar, his entire life is consumed by the passion for Information Technology development with a lifetime dedicated to its study. A man of many firsts, the Associate Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems chose the opportunity to serve and answered the call of his fatherland, over staying back abroad where he earned a paycheck far more attractive than what lay ahead. But he took up the gauntlet and set to task immediately. Within the period he has served, September 2016 to date, anyone watching the Information Technology industry in Nigeria can easily sense Tech history is being made.

NITDA has experienced a restructuring, re-strategising and repositioning like never before, centred around a meticulously thought out idea which has quickly gained popularity and has come to be known as The Strategic Roadmap To Transform The Nigerian IT Sector. The document is a detailed strategy of initiatives designed to transform and reposition NITDA and the Nigerian IT Sector. It will also enable NITDA to effectively deliver its statutory mandate – namely;

IT Regulation: Dr. Pantami has successfully steered the Agency back on course to its primary objectives of regulation and policy making, as explicitly mandated in the NITDA ACT of 2007 “Develop and implement the National IT Policy”. Within a few short months, NITDA has regained its focus as a highly professional, regulatory body as against a contract-awarding arm of government. Guidelines regarding importation of IT infrastructure are in full effect so much so that in the last few months, compliance among MDAs has reached an unprecedented all time high. There is a mutual understanding between NITDA and stakeholders that a violation attracts a penalty.

“He has sanitized the Agency, laid a solid foundation for due process and policy implementation in the industry and is building lasting legacies for a truly digital Nigeria. His religious inclinations have over time proven to be an inspiration to be just and fair to all.”

MDAs, contractors and OEMs now seek due clearance from the Agency before the hardware even cross borders; thus, fulfilling a second mandate as the clearinghouse for all IT infrastructures.

Cybersecurity: This stratagem seeks to provide trusted IT platforms, infrastructure and capacities to safeguard the cyber activities of Nigerians by developing and implementing guidelines for a healthy, coherent and highly effective Ecosystem.

The recent effective and efficient intervention in the unfortunate hacking of JAMB’s website changed the entire dynamics of the cybersecurity debate in Nigeria. Within 48 hours of the attack, NITDA had mobilized, arrested and restored the examination body’s cyber systems exploiting the capacities of recently trained staff. It was a resounding success. The Registrar of JAMB led a high powered delegation of the Board on a courtesy call of appreciation to the Agency.

Capacity Building: Since assuming office, Dr. Pantami has motivated a new generation of highly skilled personnel through various capacity building programmes and proper staff placements that conform to individual competencies that has resulted to improved efficiency, innovations and productivity. Across board, Sponsorships, skill acquisition programmes, trainings and support for youths, organizations, NGOs etc. aimed at developing Information Technology are provided regularly to inspire innovation. Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FBCS is a leader who believes that the way to ensure we fulfill our mandate of putting Nigeria on a globally competitive pedestal is by continually inspiring innovation, exposure, partnerships and collaborations, and most importantly, providing and enforcing policy direction.

“NITDA is the regulatory Agency” he often emphasizes “not a contract factory, we must empower the populace to take on their expected roles and function optimally.”

Dr. Pantami after a meeting between NITDA and diplomats from the US Embassy to collaborate on Cyber Security Awareness.

Government Digital Services Promotion: The need for a clear digital e-Government strategy to enable government prioritise IT investments to eliminate waste and engender empowerment through information access thereby, increasing transparency, accountability and aid in fighting corruption.

“[Pantami] has successfully established a solid structure where power is delegated based purely on competencies and merit. A completely detribalized Nigerian, he has evolved to become a rallying figure for due process and transparency as exemplified in his daily interactions with staff, stakeholders and captains of industry.”

The current TSA accounting systems which has thrived on the platform provided by the tools of Information Technology is a perfect yardstick for measuring the dividends of a digitally enabled economy. More than ever before, the Federal Government has maintained a bird’s eye view on public resources and corrupt officials have had a hard time since.

Local Content Development & Promotion: For the first time in a long while, Information Technology multinational companies are demonstrating a genuine willingness to collaborate with the Agency at various levels. There is a paradigm shift and an unmistakable awareness, however subtle, that business is not as usual with NITDA anymore.

Dr. Isa Pantami and his team with Mrs. Jennifer Chizua Founder/CEO of Startprenuer. The Agency plans to deepen its support for youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem.

The Agency is providing support at all levels to encourage innovation, fire imagination and kick start productivity. There are dedicated programmes for youths and genius-minds to flourish. Some of them include; the startup initiative, the young innovators hub, train the trainers seminars, Cisco certified skill acquisition workshops to mention a few. These initiatives are deployed around the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory. Guidelines and Frameworks that would drive Local Content development are being developed and systematically rolled out and implemented. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are in consultations with the Agency to continually improve on assembled components and in fact, begin local production. At the moment, machinery has been put in place to thoroughly inspect and ensure that only hardware that meet set standards are certified to cross our borders.

Digital Job Creation: At the time moment, NITDA is exploring new ways of wealth creation by enacting appropriate and enabling policies, supporting innovative ideas through funding, training and providing opportunities for brilliant minds to become digital employers. It is also in negotiations with institutions and entrepreneurs in all spheres of the economy and to collaborate on programmes that will drive job and wealth creation.

“The Agency is providing support at all levels to encourage innovation, fire imagination and kick start productivity. There are dedicated programmes for youths and genius-minds to flourish. Some of them include; the startup initiative, the young innovators hub, train the trainers seminars.”

Digital Inclusion: As a matter of priority, the role of Information Technology in national and indeed, global advancement cannot be debated. It is the future, and the future is now. The continually dwindling oil resources is a forceful awakening to the fact that diversification is unavoidable. And the only option is of course, Information Technology [which is] the only factor that influences all aspects of our lives from agriculture, health, education to government processes, social living, business, aviation, entertainment, innovation, communication, entrepreneurship, to technoprenuership, etc.

An outstanding visionary, a man ahead of his time, he has successfully established a solid structure where power is delegated based purely on competencies and merit. A completely detribalized Nigerian, he has evolved to become a rallying figure for due process and transparency as exemplified in his daily interactions with staff, stakeholders and captains of industry. His vast knowledge, immense and undeniable contributions to the global Information Technology industry recently earned him the highest Fellowship – the Fellow British Computer Society. A feat not many Africans are known to have achieved.

He has sanitized the Agency, laid a solid foundation for due process and policy implementation in the industry and is building lasting legacies for a truly digital Nigeria. His religious inclinations have over time proven to be an inspiration to be just and fair to all, his youth a driving force determined to impact change, his experiences gathered from some of the best institutions and tutors in the world a blueprint for possibilities. A man of untainted integrity, excellent pedigree, disciplined, motivated by love for country and an ardent believer in the “can do” ideology.

Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FBCS is a thoroughbred professional. It is the responsibility of everyone who believes in the cause of Information Technology to join hands with NITDA in creating a better tomorrow.