The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it plans to reposition Nigeria’s technology ecosystem to emerge as a global digital talent powerhouse.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, said this on Wednesday at a media parley with the theme “Exceptional Media Relations, Strengthening Bonds Beyond Headlines” in Abuja.

The media parley aimed to discuss NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (2024-2027).

Inuwa said the roadmap was designed in line with President Bola Tinubu’s eight priority areas targeted at diversifying the nation’s economy.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy also rolled out five strategic objectives to achieve development in the IT sector.

The NITDA boss said the agency crafted the eight pillars of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan as a comprehensive document that reflected its commitment to uplifting Nigeria to a premier status in the global digital economy.

He said this would be done by harnessing the potential of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Inuwa said the agency had also developed the National Digital Literacy Framework in line with the first pillar, which was aimed at fostering digital literacy and cultivating talents.

According to him, the framework has an ambitious target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, and that can make us surpass India in technology, among other initiatives.

“We are working with the Ministry of Education to review the curriculum across the formal education, from nursery to university so that we can infuse digital literacy in our formal education.

“By doing that, we can empower Nigerians to have digital skills before graduating.

“We are also conceptualising other initiatives which include the Digital Literacy for All Initiative which will be unveiled soon,” the Director-General said.

He added that the initiative would ensure Nigerians were educated on IT outside the formal education and have access to quality digital content.

The Director-General said that apart from digital literacy, the agency was working to ensure digital sovereignty and develop all digital innovation in the country.

He recalled that India started brain export about 20 years ago, adding that “presently, almost 25 per cent of sea level executives in big technology companies are Indians and they have dominated the global technology ecosystem.

“Nigeria can do the same because we have an even more competitive advantage than India. We have the population, better accent, better time zone and if we position ourselves, we can beat India in technology.”

The NITDA boss added that the agency had a mid-term target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027.

He said that the strategic plan intended to position Nigeria as a digitally inclined nation in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the present administration.

Tijani Reveals $2bn Investment Needed to Expand Fibre Optics Across Nigeria

In an exclusive interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, the Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed that the comprehensive installation of fibre optics cables across Nigeria would require an estimated $2 billion investment.

During the interview, Minister Tijani also addressed the state of advanced technology in Nigeria, confirming the presence of the Fifth-Generation (5G) network. However, he emphasized that the infrastructure supporting this technology is not universally accessible within the country.

“We do have 5G in some places,” Minister Tijani affirmed. “The infrastructure that drives 5G is not something that is across the nation. So, if you subscribe to 5G and move into locations where the infrastructure cannot support it, the quality will drop. 5G exists in Nigeria, and there are telcos with the license.”

Highlighting the government’s efforts to enhance connectivity, Minister Tijani outlined plans to increase the length of fibre optics cables in Nigeria from the current 35 to 40 kilometres to an ambitious target of 95,000 kilometres. He estimated the cost of this extensive wiring project at approximately $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

With a vision for transformative progress under his leadership, Minister Tijani expressed optimism about achieving the goal of wiring Nigeria within the first four years of the President Bola Tinubu administration. He emphasized the government’s focus on connecting essential institutions, including schools, hospitals, and government offices, to the fibre optic network.

Minister Tijani also discussed ongoing initiatives to declare telecoms infrastructure as critical national assets, aiming to safeguard against vandalism and ensure the sustained development of Nigeria’s digital connectivity landscape.

Tijani Reveals $2bn Investment Needed to Expand Fibre Optics Across Nigeria

APWEN inaugurates AI Girls in Engineering Club

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), on Saturday, in Lagos, inaugurated the Artificial Intelligence Girls in Engineering Club aimed at grooming young experts to drive the nation’s rapid industrialisation process.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 300 undergraduates and young female engineers were inaugurated under the APWEN Lagos Skill Up Initiatives tagged “Skill Development on Industry Trends And Cutting Edge Technologies”.

Speaking at the event, APWEN Lagos Chapter Chairperson, Mrs Atinuke Owolabi, described Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative force helping to reshape industries, solve complex problems and enhance living and livelihoods.

Owolabi said AI was helping humanity to address complex challenges in various sectors, but there had been gender disparity in the field, hence the inauguration of the club to bridge the gap.

She explained that with AI, young engineers would be able to apply their techniques to machines and get things done within a short time.

She said that the selected female engineering students would be taught in many areas of artificial intelligence disciplines in order to be employers of labour rather than looking for jobs.

“Artificial intelligence is a transformative force in today’s world, and it has the potential to reshape entire industries, solve complex problems, and enhance our lives in ways we could have only dreamed of a few years ago.

“It is no exaggeration to say that AI will play a pivotal role in addressing some of the greatest challenges facing humanity, from climate change to healthcare, from transportation to education.

“Yet, for too long, there has been a gender disparity in the field of engineering and AI.

“But today, with the inauguration of this club, we take a decisive step towards changing that narrative. We firmly believe that diversity drives innovation,” she said.

Read Also: NCWD Empowers 80 females on cyber security, Artificial Intelligence

Owolabi said empowerment of young female engineers would provide a level playing field and ensure that innovations to shape Nigeria’s future were driven by inclusive innovations.

She told the young engineers that the world needed their unique perspectives, creativity, and unwavering determination to lead innovations for Nigeria’s development.

“Embrace challenges, seek knowledge, and never be afraid to ask questions. In this club, you will have access to resources, mentors, and a community of like-minded individuals who share your passion.

“Together, we can harness the power of artificial intelligence to create a brighter, more inclusive, and more innovative world,” she said.

On his part, an ICT expert, Mr Haastrup Adesoji, who is also a member of the faculty, said the training would give the students about six months of opportunity to learn different skills.

Adesoji said Nigeria had a lot of talents but there was a vacuum in harnessing technological opportunities, hence the intervention by APWEN to close the gap between academia, industry and government to drive innovations.

Dr Imhade Okokpujie, Senior lecturer/researcher at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, and Mrs Oluwatosin Essien, a software engineer, said women engineers should take the lead in the mentorship of the younger generation.

This, they noted, would help Nigeria catch up with the rest of the world, to take its pride of place in the fourth industrial revolution for rapid development and a quantum leap of the country’s GDP.

(NAN)

APWEN inaugurates AI Girls in Engineering Club