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NITDA

NITDA unveils technovation strategic plans to equip 30 million Nigerians with digital skills

by Folarin Kehinde June 8, 2024

written by Folarin Kehinde

As part of efforts aimed at enhancing digital literacy in Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled eight strategic pillars to equip 30 million Nigerians within the next three and half years with digital skills, a transformative journey with the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, 2024 – 2027 (SRAP 2.0).

The Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi while speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADING REPORTERS over the weekend in Abuja stated that the move is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to ensure that every young Nigerian is equipped with relevant
skills to thrive in this rapidly evolving world.

Abdullahi explained that eight strategic pillars are crafted with the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) tools which will be deployed in all the 774 local government in line the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), non – governmental organizations in Nigeria and other strategic partners in Nigeria.

He noted that the first pillar: foster digital literacy and cultivate talent will be achieved by developing the National Digital Literacy Framework, which has the target of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2020.

“To do that, we have initiatives in three streams. We looked at those in the formal education. How many Nigerians are in formal education from kindergarten to tertiary institutions? Based on the available data, we have over 20 million Nigerians in the formal education. So we are working with the Minister of Education to review the curriculum and infuse digital literacy as part of our formal education so that people learn as they grow.”

The second pillar he said focuses on building a robust technology research ecosystem where innovation is born, fostering developments that propel nations towards prosperity and global competitiveness.

He noted that these advancements not only enhance productivity across industries but also establish a country’s
competitive advantage on the global stage. For instance, breakthroughs in AI, Robotics, and IoT have revolutionised sectors from manufacturing
to healthcare, driving both economic growth and societal progress.

Abdullahi emphasized that investing in technology research equips Nigeria with the tools to navigate and lead in the Fourth
Industrial Revolution adding that by focusing on strategic areas
such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics,
Blockchain, and Additive Manufacturing, Nigeria aims to position itself among the top 25 percent of nations globally in these fields.

“This ambition not only draws vital research funding but also attracts
global partnerships, enhancing Nigeria’s standing as a leader in technological innovation.”

The third pillar which speaks to Strengthen Policy Implementation and legal framework focuses on enhancing Nigeria’s digital technology landscape to support its transformation, ensuring policies are not only forward-thinking but also adaptable to emerging technological trends.

He stated that the evolving digital domain demands a regulatory approach that balances innovation with security,
privacy, and ethical considerations hence by revisiting and strengthening existing policies and legal structures, Nigeria can unlock new opportunities for digital advancement and economic growth.

The fourth pillar: To promote inclusive access to digital infrastructure and services, Abdullahi explained that this pillar aims at removing barriers and foster an inclusive digital environment where every Nigerian, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, or geographical
location, can thrive.

He added that the digital divide poses a significant challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and undermines efforts towards equitable development.

“With a strategic focus on inclusivity, Nigeria positions itself to harness the potential of its diverse population, bridging gaps and ensuring that digital advancements benefit all layers of society.”

The fifth pillar: Strengthen Cybersecurity and enhance Digital Trust stated that in the digital age, cybersecurity is not just a
technical necessity but a critical foundation for trust and confidence in digital services adding that as the digital landscape evolves, the threats to data security and system integrity grow more sophisticated.

“Recognising this, our strategic
emphasis on cybersecurity aims to build a
resilient digital environment where citizens
and businesses can operate with confidence. This move is essential to safeguard our digital assets, protect personal information, and ensure the continuity of critical services, thereby fostering a secure and trustful digital ecosystem.”

The 6th Pillar: Nurture an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Abdullahi noted that nurturing an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem is pivotal for advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development and global competitiveness adding Innovation and entrepreneurship are the engines of growth, driving competitiveness and economic diversification.

He stated that this strategic pillar aims to transform Nigeria into a hub for IT products and services, enhancing ICT’s contribution to the GDP and fostering a dynamic ecosystem that propels economic growth adding that by creating a supportive environment that encourages creativity, Nigeria can unlock the potential of its entrepreneurs to innovate, scale up, and compete on the international stage.

The 7th pillar: Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration, Abdullahi explained that strategic partnerships are fundamental to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda adding that collaborating with public and private sector entities, academia, and international organisations will enhance SRAP 2.0’s impact and visibility, aligning with global eorts to achieve development goals.

“This Pillar emphasises the importance of synergistic relationships to amplify
Nigeria’s digital initiatives and global presence.

“Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, strategic
geopolitical position, and burgeoning tech ecosystem present a unique competitive advantage. Leveraging these strengths
through international collaborations can elevate Nigeria’s status as a key player in
the global digital landscape.”

The 8th Pillar: Cultivate a Vibrant Organizational Culture and an Agile Workforce in NITDA, Abdullahi noted thar the move is paramount to NITDA’s pursuit of organisational excellence as it underscores the importance of fostering an environment that encourages learning, psychological safety, and adaptability, ensuring that the workforce is prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of the digital age.

“A progressive organisational culture and agile workforce present an opportunity
to enhance innovation, efficiency,
and responsiveness within NITDA.

“By embracing flexibility, collaboration, and
transparency, NITDA can foster a culture that supports continuous improvement
and adaptability.

“NITDA’s commitment to a learning and
psychologically safe environment sets it apart, enabling it to attract and retain top talent while fostering a culture of innovation and experimentation.

“This approach not only enhances
employee engagement and productivity but also positions NITDA as a leader in organisational culture within the public sector.” he added.

June 8, 2024 0 comments

Headlines

CBN, NITDA, Recognizes SYSTEMSPECS for Excellence

by Folarin Kehinde October 31, 2022

written by Folarin Kehinde

Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), Africa’s foremost payment solutions company and a subsidiary of Systemspecs Group, was adjudged the winner of the “PAYMENT SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR ” award by the CBN.

The award was presented on the 24th of October, during the celebration of one year since the launch of the e-Naira themed “eNaira365days.”

The award serves as a testament to the company’s efforts in raising awareness about the e-naira initiative by being the first payment platform to offer its usage to Nigerians.

In a similar development, the very next day, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the policy implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy of Nigeria, recognised Systemspecs with the “Indigenous Technology Promotion – Software” award at its NITDA 2022 Award for exemplary commitment to the development of homegrown technology to address local challenges.

The CBN award was received by RPSL’s Chief Technology Officer, Mojib Ishola, in Lagos, whilst that of NITDA was received in Abuja by Abayomi Oniku, Divisional Head Business Development, and Hussein Akinkuolie, Group Head, Partnership & Special Initiatives.
Commenting on the award, Mojib Ishola mentioned that such recognition enables more drive to achieving greater feats.

“On behalf of the management and staff of Remita Payment Services Limited, we are extremely honoured to receive such an important award for our advancement of payment solutions in the country.

Awards like this only propel us to keep improving on our services as we reinstate our commitment to delight our stakeholders.” said Mojib.

At the latter event in Abuja, Abayomi Oniku expressed gratitude to NITDA on behalf of Remita by giving a heart-warming acceptance speech.

In his words, “we dedicate this award to every Nigerian innovator doing their best to catalyse the development of the economy.”

Remita, the flagship product of RPSL, possesses the unique ability to transform the perception of payment systems in the market by offering nothing but quality services.

This was buttressed when Deremi Atanda, Managing Director of Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), expressed his delight at the one-year anniversary of the e-Naira. He said: “It has always been our approach to focus on working tirelessly to simplify payments and drive financial inclusion by deploying topnotch solutions. Our fulfillment comes primarily from the satisfaction our various consumers derive from using our superior solutions.

However, when we receive recognitions such as these from the country’s apex regulatory bodies, we are even further encouraged to deliver more.”

Remita has gained recognition as a leading financial technology company since it first entered the market 17 years ago. Remita enables people, businesses, and governments in Africa to easily receive and send payments on a single multibank multichannel platform.

October 31, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

ASUU: Union Threatens To Revoke NITDA Leader Certificate Over UTAS Failure

by Leading Reporters April 1, 2022

written by Leading Reporters

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to begin the process of revoking the degree certificate of the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa.

In a tweet by the union, it revealed that the revoking was a result of the failure of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution in the tests carried out on the proposed payment platform by the NITDA leader.

Inuwa had on March 9, 2022, claimed that UTAS failed the “integrity test, vulnerability test (security integrity), User Acceptance Test (UAT) and stress load test, as well as the hardware requirements” as directed by the Minister of Communication, Isa Pantami after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

ASUU has in fact called the claim of the NITDA boss an “unguarded statement”.

UTAS is the payment platform proposed by ASUU to replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

April 1, 2022 0 comments

Headlines

“Watching Infidels Being Killed Makes Us Happy” – Nigeria Min. Of Communication Sheikh Pantami

by Leading Reporters April 15, 2021

written by Leading Reporters

Controversial Islamic cleric and President Muhammadu Buhari’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Shiekh Isah Pantami has been alleged to have claimed that he and others who share his radical Islamic view are happy whenever unbelievers are being killed.

“We are all happy whenever unbelievers are being killed,” Mr Pantami said. “But the Sharia does not allow us to kill them without a reason.”

“Our zeal (hamasa) should not take precedence over our obedience to the sacred law,” he added.

Mr Pantami’s comments were contained in three audio recordings of his teachings in the 2000s, when he took extreme positions in support of the brutal exploits of Al Qaeda and Taliban elements who were on a campaign to obliterate the West and conquer other parts of the world.

He made the remarks while responding to audience questions about his views on Osama Bin Laden during a lecture about the Taliban. Mr Pantami said of Mr Bin Laden, the late Al Qaeda leader responsible for bringing down the World Trade Centre in an attack that claimed over 3,000 lives in 2001: “I still consider him as a better Muslim than myself.”

Mr Pantami’s comments were translated by Professor Andrea Brigaglia, an African expert at Naples University in Italy. Nigerian scholar Musa Ibrahim of University of Florida in the United States contributed to the paper that explored the onset of Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Top journal publisher academia.edu published the research in March 2019, several months before Mr Buhari tapped Mr Pantami as a minister. Mr Pantami’s violent preachings, which he rendered in Hausa and Arabic throughout the late 1990s and early to mid-2000s, had gone largely unreported in the Nigerian mainstream media.

Mr Pantami did not return a request seeking comments from Peoples Gazette about whether or not he has eschewed his violent Salafist views.

How many people have been radicalised by Mr Pantami remained unclear. Messrs Brigaglia and Ibahim said Mr Pantami’s views were rare amongst Islamic preachers across Africa at the time they were made, even though they were common amongst Nigerian Muslims at the time.

“It was ordinary for Nigeria’s mainstream Salafis to endorse Al-Qaeda publicly in their speeches and lectures,” the scholars said. “In this respect, Nigeria was probably a unique case in the Muslim world.”

Mr Pantami, 48, was widely known as a hate preacher across universities and other public institutions in northern parts of Nigeria before Mr Buhari brought him into mainstream Nigerian politics by appointing him as the head of the public information technology department NITDA in 2016.

Mr Buhari further elevated Mr Pantami following his reelection as president in 2019, tapping him to lead the communications and digital economy ministry of the federal government. Mr Pantami has been accused of using his position to further his agenda as a fundamentalist.

His decision to shut down the registration of new telephone lines in Nigeria has been perhaps his most controversial policy pronouncement to date. The move has blocked millions of Nigerians from being able to register new lines on the purported grounds that everyone has to obtain a government-issued national identity number.

Mr Pantami’s vicious comments surfaced following reports that he was placed travel restrictions by the United States for purported ties to Boko Haram. The minister quickly moved to debunk the salacious and grossly uncorroborated claim first published by Daily Independent, a Lagos-based daily.

While debunking the report, however, Mr Pantami took to Twitter to claim he has always preached against Boko Haram. He also retweeted several handles that described him as a peaceful Islamic scholar, an attempt at image laundering that has now been punctured by Italian and African scholars.

“It is unbelievable that President Buhari will appoint a man like Isa Pantami to be a minister in a secular country like Nigeria,” political analyst Mohammed Tukura told The Gazette. “A president that believes in national cohesion will not appoint a fundamentalist who shares the same views as leaders of Boko Haram and Taliban.”

Mr Tukura said Mr Pantami’s nomination should have been rejected on the basis of his appearance in the WikiLeaks file in which he said to have been pushed out of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University for constantly espousing dangerous views.

“We saw on the Internet that the U.S. government accused him of making dangerous comments for which he was expelled from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University,” Mr Tukura said. “His appointment as a minister has now further exposed Buhari’s sectional and divisive way of life.”

Credit: https://gazettengr.com/we-are-all-happy-whenever-unbelievers-are-being-killed-minister-pantami/

April 15, 2021 0 comments

Opinion

There is Shortage of Leaders

by Leading Reporters March 19, 2021

written by Leading Reporters

“Nigeria In Dire Need of Leaders That Understand The Moral Dimension of Leadership In Service Delivery”

Light I. Shedrack

“If you understand what sound leadership is all about, you’d know that the world, and indeed Nigeria have serious shortage of leaders in the truest meaning of leadership. When I talk about leadership, I do not mean the politicians that mount the podium during campaign and brand themselves “tested and trusted” leaders.

I am talking about leaders who understand the moral dimension of leadership in service delivery; leaders who have conquered selves, egos, and their ravenous appetite to steal from the treasury; leaders who understand the principle of stewardship; leaders who are followers and not bosses; leaders who understand how to optimize human, natural and other resources”.

The above were part of the opening address given by Light I. Shedrack in his talk to members of the Civil Society Organizations during its maiden edition of a two-day capacity building on Leadership/Basic ICT application training for civil society groups in Nigeria organized by Transparency Advocacy For Development Initiative (TADI) in conjunction with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Speaking on the topic “Leadership Capacity Building (Quality of Good Directive/Leadership Skill), Mr. Shedrack leveraged some legendary stories, including “Reformers of Selves Wanted in America’s Early History”, “The Sage Who Tied An Earthen Pot to His Waist” and “Mahatma Gandhi and The Woman Whose Son Had Sugar Addiction” to buttress the fact that leaders are first reformers who have reformed themselves.

“There is a silken thread of morality that holds great leaders together”.

In Mr. Shedrack’s words “leaders are those who have reformed themselves. Those who are selfless; Those who are driven by passion to serve and not to be served. Those who inspire others and build them to succeed”.

“There is the moral dimension of leadership and unless it is present, no society moves in the right direction. Forget about those that brandish the name “Leaders”. If they are truly leaders in the best definition of leadership, why have we not made any tangible progress since we got independence? He described a true leader as an organizer, a mentor, a manager and someone who truly inspires others to succeed. A leader is a Shepherd and not just a herder who only takes the sheep to the field. A shepherd stays with the sheep in the face of danger. He has emotive connection with the flock that he hurts when the flock hurts.

“Leaders always know the “Why”. They know why they are saddled with the responsibilities they are saddled with. They know why they need to deliver results. Mr. Shedrack reiterated the words of Raymond Smith, a USA business leader who said that leaders are in short supply and the society is not doing much to raise more.

“A leader is visionary and he thinks SMART. He is assertive. He teaches and is teachable. They are driven by passion to succeed and they do not only delegate authorities and responsibilities, they are part of the doing-team.

Mr Shedrack frowned at the system of leadership in Nigeria which sees others with bright ideas as a threat. He said that Nigeria public office holders, including civil servants and those in private sectors do not feel comfortable when they have subordinates or staff who look and act brighter than them.

“We only have managers and so-called leaders who will never allow those who exude more brilliance and intelligence to be promoted because they feel threatened that such brilliance and intelligence may take them out of business. It is called law of Injelitance”.

He encouraged the attendants to rejig their leadership consciousness towards promoting social cohesion, love, peace, intellectualism, merit and patriotism, among other virtues that build strong nationhood. He charged the attendants to begin to replace symbols of violence and divisions with symbols of peace, unity, love and creative engagements.

March 19, 2021 0 comments

Headlines

Holy Thief: Isah Pantami Stinks Of Corruption, Nepotism and Religiosity: His Digital Economy A Hoax

by Leading Reporters May 22, 2020

written by Leading Reporters

Sheikh Isah Pantami is one of the holier than thou political appointees of President Muhammadu Buhari who hides under the umbrella of religious titles to commit atrocious acts such as diversion of public funds, and nepotism.

Those who know him well will readily tell you that Sheikh Pantami is an eye-servant, holier-than-thou heck of a political appointee who thrives on rubbishing the hard earned reputation of others. From National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA to the current Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the story has been that of one-sidedness in appointment, highhandedness, corruption, and self-praises without any glaring achievements.

At NITDA, Pantami created every opportunity to steal from the coffers of the agency. That includes collecting a sum of N20m with which he claimed to have used to bring in personal car from Saudi Arabia where he lived prior to his appointment, to Nigeria.

The said car was the car he used in Saudi Arabia before coming to Nigeria. Insider information revealed that the N20million was never used to bring in any car from Saudi Arabia. Rather than returning the money, he began to victimize workers who he believed were responsible for the public knowledge of that atrocious act.

Our investigation further revealed that Pantami, before being appointed Minister of Communication and Digital Economy leveraged on his position as the then DG of NITDA and struck a deal with telecommunication companies, especially the GSM operators to shortchange the government by giving them waiver from the statutory remittances they should make to the Federal Government. These companies have consistently posted profits and have not at any point posted loss that should suggest availing them waiver.

Another blunder by Pantami is his inability to get ICT incubating centers across all the states functional despite, funds voted for the project, including those from donor agencies. Sheikh Pantama thrives in stirring noises about what he can do and not what he has done. The digital economy is still a long dream that has not contributed anything to the coffers despite plunging hundreds of millions of Naira of tax payers’ money into the project. Recall that under Pantami, the ministry of Communication was changed to Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy after convincing the Federal Government that he was going to use the ministry and ICT to drive economic growth just like India and USA. A check on the economy will reveal that under Pantami, revenue from the ministry and its agencies have rather plunged.

The Technology Village in Abuja which Pantami taunted so much about is still one of his white elephant projects with which he deceives Federal Government into believing that he has the capacity to create a huge economy from ICT.

Furthermore, it was revealed that Pantami is using his offices as a conduit to amass as much money as much as he can to prosecute his political ambition. An insider informant said that Pantami is gunning for governorship election come 2023 in Gombe State. To keep the money coming from NITDA, Pantami convinced the late Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his former Personal Assistant Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi as the current DG/CEO of NITDA.

Our investigation further revealed that Pantami has usurped the powers of all the DGs in all the agencies under Ministry of Communication and digital economy by centralizing all contract awards on his desk. This is to enable him choose who to award contract to and who not to award contract to. Pantami is currently the one awarding contracts in all the agencies his ministry is supervising.

In our next publication, we will reveal to you how Pantami employed about 90 staff in NITDA, with over 50% coming from his home State and religion and another 25% from from Northern Region without approval from Federal Character Commission. Recall that Pantami dismissed staffs that were employed by his predecessor, describing the processes as lacking in merit, only for him to do worse that the evil he accused his predecessor of. The dismissed workers dragged Pantami to court and the case is currently in Appeal Court now. Stay tuned

May 22, 2020 0 comments