This follows the expiration of the 2017-2020 NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap.
According to NITDA Director General, Abdullahi, the agency has developed a new strategic roadmap that will replace the expired one.
Abdullahi said“You may also be aware that the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS) replaced the National IT Policy. Therefore, with the expiration of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap 2017 – 2020, we have developed a new Strategic Roadmap in line with NDEPS, which will be unveiled next week”.
He added, “It is worth noting that from September 2016 to date, the Agency has witnessed an unprecedented improvement in its activities, especially in the area of regulation.
“Upon assumption of the office of my Boss and Mentor, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the then Director-General and now the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, he instituted strategic planning and crafted the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap, 2017-2020.
“The Roadmap was anchored on seven (7) pillars: IT Regulations, Local Content Development and Promotion, Cybersecurity, Government Digital Service Promotion, Digital Job Creation, Digital Inclusion, and Capacity Building.
“The Roadmap shaped and created a direction for the Agency’s activities and immensely contributed to the unprecedented achievements.
NITDA DG stressed that the agency is focused on bridging the digital divide in the country, while at the same time creating an enabling environement for technological ecosystem.
He said, “You may be aware that the Agency’s mandates are to achieve three broad objectives mainly. To provide advisory services, regulate and develop the Information Technology Sector.
“Therefore, the Agency focuses on bridging the digital divide, providing the enabling environment and strengthening the tech ecosystem. In 2007, we started our developmental interventions by deploying ten (10) Rural Information Technology Resource Centre (RITC) across the country’s six Geo-Political zones.
“The number increased to 17 in 2008, 58 in 2009, and 119 in 2010.
With increased awareness of the Agency’s intervention, demand-specific interventions were developed.
“These include Community Access Venues (CACs), Knowledge Access Venues (KAVs), Digital Capacity Building Centres (DCBCs), Digital Job Creation Centres (DJCCs), Digital Divide Bridging Centres (DDBCs), Digital Economy Centres (DECs), IT Infrastructure for Higher Institutions, Wide Area Network for Higher Institutions, Virtual Library, IT Innovation and Incubation Parks, IT Community Training Centres, IT Innovation Hubs, and IT Skills Acquisition and Computer-Based Testing Centres.
“From inception to date, you will be glad to know that the Agency has deployed over one thousand, five hundred and sixty (1,560) Centres across the country, with a minimum of two Centres in each of the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
“Another critical area of focus for the Agency was Capacity Building. This started with a Train-the-Trainer programme for Lecturers in Tertiary Institutions.
“It then grew into having special programmes for Women, People Living with Disabilities, Military and Paramilitary, Public Officers, students, NYSC, Artisans, Primary School Children and now having various programmes delivered online through the NITDA Academy for Research and Training.
“So far, the Agency has impacted over 2.5 Million Nigerians directly and/or indirectly in multiple areas of IT through its interventions and training.
“To illustrate this, you may recall that a series of Regulatory Instruments were issued in 2019.
“These include: “The Rule-Making Process Regulation of NITDA; The Nigerian Data Protection Regulation; Guideline for the Clearance of Information Technology Projects in Federal Public Institutions; Guidelines for Public Internet Access;
Framework for the use of Social Media in Public Institutions; Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in Information and Communications Technology as amended; Nigeria e-Government Interoperability Framework (Ne-GIF); Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV); Nigeria Cloud Computing Policy; and
Framework and Guidelines for ICT Adoption in Tertiary Intuitions.
Some of the Regulatory Instruments were operational before their release.
“For example, the enforcement of the IT Clearance Process of NITDA started in December 2016. In addition to the value addition to IT project delivery, the IT Clearance has saved over 22.45 billion Naira for the Federal Government.
“Similarly, with the release of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), NITDA has created a new industry, stimulated new business models, and empowered thousands of Nigerians through capacity building and skills development.
“We licensed 72 Data Protection Compliance Organizations (DPCOs), created over 2,686 new jobs roles in the industry, developed a new data protection sector valued at around 2.2 billion Naira.
“The Agency has also successfully investigated and issued data breach fines to many organizations, including public institutions. More importantly, other countries are looking up to the Agency for guidance on Data Protection Regulation.”
“You may also be aware that the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS) replaced the National IT Policy. Therefore, with the expiration of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap 2017 – 2020, we have developed a new Strategic Roadmap in line with NDEPS, which will be unveiled next week.
”Other success stories you may be aware of include: Rebranding the Agency in line with NDEPS vision; Forging National and International Collaboration and Partnership with critical stakeholders; Establishment of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR); and Commencement of the Development of the National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.”
