The National Information Technology Development Agency has proposed a collaboration with the Land Forces Simulation Centre of Nigeria, a formation of the Nigerian Army, to develop a digitalised simulation centre where arms and ammunition could be used for training.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, on Friday, set the tone for collaboration with LFSCN on the initiative when he hosted Maj.-Gen. Garba Sani, Director General of LFSCN, in Abuja.
According to Inuwa, the adoption of technologies in executing warfare has become more pronounced than ever, as wars are now rarely fought physically.
He said, as a forward-looking agency, NITDA was organising an innovative challenge for youths to come up with home-grown innovations.
“We can call on people to compete and bid for such ideas and we work with them to develop something.
“NITDA will be willing to assist the start-ups to proffer solutions that can be developed into products,” he said.
Inuwa stressed further that the agency could help build the capacity of the personnel on identified areas of skill gaps.
“Part of the agency’s mandate is to build the digital skills of Nigerians, so we urge you to work with our team to identify your capacity building needs,” he added.
Sani, whose response suggested he was at home with the idea, said new strategies to prosecute war were accelerating, thus the need for acquisition of digital skills.
He corroborated that simulation training was necessary in order to save resources for the government.
“A trainee soldier would require 10,000 rounds of ammunition before he can perfect shooting, and the resources to provide that is not available, hence the need to adopt simulation for training.
“We also hope that NITDA will provide us with ICT hardware and software systems, development of customised software-based simulation systems, research industry linkage to assist LFSCN in building the adequate capacity of its staff,” he said.
The LFSCN director general added that a cordial working relationship will create local simulation platforms, while facilities like Internet bandwidth will promote simulation activities.
