The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, has said that it would be more appropriate to stimulate Nigeria’s Information Communication Technology industry through local content, considering that the country’s large population boasts more young and brilliant innovators.
Inuwa said this on Thursday in Abuja, when he visited the Managing Director of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uche Orji.
Since ICT is taking over world economies, Inuwa stressed the need for massive investment in IT infrastructure in the country.
“It is important to stimulate the IT industry through content localisation, rather than importation, considering especially that the large population of Nigeria consists of young and brilliant innovators,” he said.
According to Inuwa, NITDA is partnering with the NSIA to generate investment in ICT start-ups for job and wealth creation in the country.
He hinted that the agency initiated some projects to ensure valuable investments and to sustain the ICT ecosystem, even during the Coronavirus Disease lockdown in the country, including the ‘COVID-19 Innovation Challenge’ and the ‘National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture.’
“For the innovation challenge, young innovators converged and came up with technology solutions to cushion the effect of COVID-19.
“NAVSA is an initiative to digitise our farming processes and it is already yielding positive results.
“We have trained and equipped over 140 Nigerians who are already benefiting from the scheme and we are working to take it to every part of the country. If we work collectively, we can achieve a lot,” he said.
Orji remarked that the collaboration would benefit the country in terms of developing its economy, “especially now that ICT contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product.
“Our mission is to play a leading role in driving sustained economic development for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“We want to create economic stability in the country and IT is a great way to achieve that,” Orji said.
