A record 1.2 million devices were sold between 2015 and 2019,the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has said.
NITDA Director-General Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said investments in the indigenous software development mandated for federal government institutions stand at over N1.3 billion.
The DG who stated this when he led some members of his management team to brief the new permanent secretary Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy about NITDA activities, said, efforts at localizing the government data has resulted into the repatriation of 98 per cent of government data which was hitherto hosted off shore back to Nigeria.
He added that Nigeria Data Protection Regulations has created N2.2billion industry, with 2,686 jobs the implementation of the regulation; and it has remitted N12.6million to the federal government purse from filling of NDPR audit report among others.
According to him, the Agency’s interactions are targeted at developing the country’s economy and it’s currently focused on building capacity of Nigerians to acquire skill necessary to drive a digital economy.
“In 2020, we went around all the six geopolitical zones to train people. We do a lot of in-person and virtual training. We have trained over 35,000 on different courses on ICT virtually and developed the capacity of 1500 Nigerians at our e-Government Training Centre,” he said.
He noted that NITDA roadmaps of 2016-2020 are aligned with the National Economy Policy and Strategy and the yet to be launched 2021-2024 would consulate the pillars of NDEPS.
The Permanent secretary, Engr. Festus Y.A Daudu, charged the management of on continuous capacity building of Nigerians in Information and Communication Technology.
He said, “You need to make sure that the necessary capacity is developed within the ecosystem because you have a lot to do and if you do not develop your capacity; in this particular sector that is dynamic, you will lose touch with current realities.
He noted that the country has all it takes to drive most of her processes with information technology.
He therefore charged the Agency on ensuring smooth collaboration with other parastatals and IT stakeholders because, “we have to work together; we have one objective to make the lives of Nigerian better. We are a communication and digital economy family.”
He assures NITDA of his supports that would make the Agency carry out its mandate effectively especially in the area of clearing IT projects of other Ministries, Department and Agencies.
