NITDA Seeks Greater Nigerian Control of Digital Infrastructure
Nigeria needs greater control over its critical digital infrastructure to maximise the economic opportunities presented by the digital economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said.
NITDA Director-General, Mr Kashifu Inuwa, made the assertion on Thursday during a firechat at GITEX AI Nigeria in Lagos.
Inuwa linked the development of domestic digital infrastructure to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy, saying digital technology could drive productivity, income generation and prosperity.
He explained that the growing dependence of businesses on data, connectivity and computing power made digital infrastructure an important part of how economic value was created and captured.
According to him, the Federal Government’s National Cloud-First Policy seeks to encourage businesses and large organisations to prioritise cloud infrastructure while directing more resources towards innovation and their core operations.
Inuwa said the policy should not be interpreted as an attempt to exclude international technology companies from Nigeria.
Rather, he said, the government wanted global technology firms to invest in the country, develop infrastructure and operate within its regulatory framework.
“We are saying, come to Nigeria, work with us and build with us,” Inuwa said.
He added that the policy was expected to encourage investment by hyperscalers, global technology companies and local investors in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
Addressing concerns that greater emphasis on domestic digital infrastructure could isolate Nigeria, Inuwa said the objective was to strengthen the country’s ability to determine and control its digital future.
He said some categories of information required stronger protection because of their relevance to national and economic security.
These, he said, included defence data, financial transaction data, citizens’ data and healthcare data.
Inuwa also pointed to Nigeria’s position as a major internet transit hub for West and Central Africa as another reason for developing domestic digital infrastructure.
He said infrastructure and digital skills developed in Nigeria could also support neighbouring landlocked countries, potentially strengthening the country’s role in the regional digital economy.
On digital development at the state level, Inuwa said NITDA was engaging state governments to domesticate relevant national policies and regulations.
He said the Federal Government wanted digital development to translate into inclusive prosperity by ensuring that states had the infrastructure, talent and enabling environment required to participate in the digital economy.
NITDA Highlights Opportunities Beyond Fintech
Inuwa also drew attention to opportunities available to Nigerian startups outside the fintech sector.
He said government policies were opening opportunities in areas including health-tech, agri-tech and ed-tech.
As part of the efforts in healthcare, he cited the establishment of a National Health Technology Office, which he said was aimed at decentralising healthcare and creating opportunities for technology-driven solutions.
He said similar interventions in agriculture and education would create opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop solutions to challenges facing the country.
The NITDA chief encouraged startups to look beyond conventional business models and use technology to develop new value propositions and scalable solutions.
“We want to see startups building similar solutions in other parts of the country, not just in fintech, where we already have many unicorns,” he said.
According to Inuwa, Nigeria’s fintech experience showed that deliberate government policies, combined with enabling infrastructure, could stimulate innovation and contribute to the creation of new industries.
The GITEX AI Nigeria is a four-day event that commenced in Abuja and is described as the largest technology and startup show in West Africa.
Written by
Atlantic Reports Admin
Comments
- Be the first to comment.