NITDA Seeks Stakeholders Involvement to Tackle Threats to Digital Economy 

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on stakeholders to participate actively in its various programmes mapped out to mitigate threats to digital economy ecosystem.

NITDA emphasised the need for people to evaluate its activities during a stakeholders’ engagement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday tagged, “creating opportunities, breaking boundaries towards digitalization and entrepreneurial evolution”.

The agency had earlier held a similar programme in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi and Gombe states.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said in its 20 years of existence, the agency had responded appropriately to the growing needs of digital economy ecosystem.

He said the agency implemented strategic actions in critical areas of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), a strategic document approved for NITDA by the Federal Executive Council focusing on eight pillars.

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Inuwa, who was represented by NITDA’s acting Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, said the aspiration of the agency was to get closer to the stakeholders.

He said: “We are also increasingly becoming a process-driven, data-dependent, and results-oriented Organisation. Our strategies and choices are pursued, as we always ensure financial prudence.

“In fact, even in the most turbulent times, we are ensuring that we meet the objectives of a national IT Governance, chief of which is delivering value to our stakeholders. These are in tandem with our core values of People First, Innovativeness and Professionalism.

“Our stakeholders come first, and we must strive to deliver value to you. That would not be possible without listening to you and speaking with you to get clarity on your perspectives, aspirations and needs”.

Inuwa said there was a need for the agency to restrategise amidst new challenges and opportunities in the digital economy.

He noted that NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), 2021-2024 had been conceived to provide direction for the organisation, and a sound platform for mitigating the foreseen and unforeseen threats to the digital economy.

He said the engagement was initiated to offer stakeholders the opportunity to express their views and opinions related to the agency’s implementation of its mandate; establish sustainable collaborations and share with stakeholders the agency’s vision, regulatory instruments for national development, and its journey so far.

“In keeping with our value of innovativeness, we have constantly rethought our ideas, systems, and processes, and have been wary of providing old answers to new problems.

“We therefore hope that today’s event and the whole program of stakeholder engagement across the country will provide fresh understandings and ideas on how we can deliver more impactful value to Nigerians”, he said.

In his welcome address, the Head, Southsouth Zonal Office,  Dr. Samuel Gambo, said the significance of the programme was to hear from key stakeholders in the ICT sector.

He said all stakeholders should be carried along to attain NDEPS in the country and be in synergy with the agency and the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy.

He said the NITDA would engage stakeholders in Bayelsa in a similar programme on February 24th.