NITDA Pledges Digital Revolution for Nigerian Agriculture
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NITDA Pledges Digital Revolution for Nigerian Agriculture
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
In a recent meeting with the Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mrs. Dede Ekoue, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has underscored NITDA’s dedication to leveraging Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) of the Agricultural Sector.
During the working visit, Inuwa emphasized NITDA’s ongoing initiatives aimed at providing sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers in Nigeria.
He highlighted the pivotal role of Information Technology (IT) in global agriculture, citing Smart Agriculture as a transformative force in increasing food production.
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Inuwa asserted, “Embracing technology can be a game-changer in the sector, attracting the younger population to view farming as a lucrative business rather than a rural activity.” He envisioned the potential of technology to enable urban farming, including innovative practices like vertical farming.
The Director-General also emphasized NITDA’s collaborative efforts with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, private sectors, multinational companies, and universities.
He stressed the importance of a collective approach to digital transformation and expressed readiness to deepen partnerships.
Responding to IFAD’s partnership request for a forthcoming policy dialogue, Inuwa affirmed NITDA’s readiness to participate, emphasizing the agency’s culture of collaborating with entities contributing value to Nigeria.
He mentioned NITDA’s ongoing collaboration with Abuja Technology Village to implement agricultural technologies on secured farmland.
IFAD’s Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, praised NITDA for its support in previous initiatives and expressed gratitude for the agency’s commitment to collaboration.
She noted the upcoming policy dialogue as a crucial step in strengthening collaborations among institutions working to extend digital solutions to smallholder farmers.
