Tech Ecosystem: NITDA Unveils Plans to Drive Innovation in Northern Region
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Tech Ecosystem: NITDA Unveils Plans to Drive Innovation in Northern Region
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
In a recent Stakeholders’ Engagement on the State of the Northern Innovation Ecosystem held in Abuja, Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated the agency’s commitment to bolstering the region’s innovation landscape.
In his keynote address, Inuwa emphasized the need for concerted efforts to address the challenges hindering the growth of the ecosystem.
“This platform has spurred the necessary conversations that we need to have in order to tackle some of the bottlenecks that have over the years stifled the growth of the ecosystem in the region,” said Inuwa, highlighting the significance of the event.
Aligning the discussions with the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration priority areas, Inuwa underscored NITDA’s dedication to fostering economic growth and development, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
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“We want to harness this population to make Nigeria a talent net exporter,” affirmed Inuwa, emphasizing the potential of the region’s young population in driving innovation and economic progress.
Addressing challenges such as funding constraints, Inuwa urged stakeholders to explore innovative solutions and leverage existing resources.
He also unveiled NITDA’s plans to establish Technology Development Zones across the country and innovation hubs in every state, aiming to decentralize innovation activities and foster inclusivity.
Head of Experimentation at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Jamila Mohammed, echoed the importance of collaborative efforts in positioning the Northern innovation ecosystem to address developmental challenges.
“The essence of all this is to galvanize action to catalyze action, to be able to disrupt the way innovation is done in the region itself,” remarked Mohammed, stressing the urgency to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Stakeholders, including representatives from the Northern Ecosystem Working Group (NEW-G) and UNDP, expressed unanimous support for nurturing and advancing the Northern innovation ecosystem through strategic initiatives and partnerships.
