The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, says it has resolved to expand the scope of its annual flagship conference, e-Nigeria Conference, to cover the entire African continent by the year 2020, just as the agency plans to improve Nigeria’s presence at the annual GITEX technology exhibition.
DAILY NIGERIA reports that the e-Nigeria Conference, Exhibitions and Awards is NITDA’s annual flagship event that brings stakeholders together in the Nigeria IT ecosystem, which will now metamorphose into African Information Technology Conference and Award.
The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, GITEX, is the biggest technology show in the Middle East and third biggest technology show in the whole world.
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In a statement, by the head of NITDA’s Corporate Affairs & External Relations Unit, Hadiza Umar, said the Director-General of the agency, Dr Isa Ali-Pantami made the disclosure while inaugurating the Local Organising Committees, LOCs, for e-Nigeria Conference and GITEX technology exhibition for 2019.
Mr Ali-Pantami challenged the committee members to come up with disruptive ideas that will challenge the successes recorded in the previous years.
“I have directed my colleagues at NITDA to look at disruptive ideas; we have to challenge our successes after 365 days and do what will surpass the achievements recorded last year.
“I, therefore, hope these two committees will do intensive and extensive works to see to the successes of these national assignments,” he said.
On the e-Nigeria Conference, the DG specifically tasked the LOC to consider it as national assignment and put in their best efforts with the view of ensuring a successful outing at the event.
He said: “e-Nigeria is very dear to us as IT stakeholders and as a nation because of the importance the leadership of the country attached to the development of IT sector.
“I advise you to see it as a rare opportunity to serve in the committee that has attracted presidential present in two consecutive years within his first term in office.”
He added that, “apart from budget presentation that the President attends every year, its only e-Nigeria that can boast of playing host to the president on two successive occasions.”
While briefing the committee members on the theme of this year event: “Leveraging Technology and Indigenous Innovation to Attain Sustainable Development Goals, SDG,” Mr Pantami advised that members could come up with other suggestions that could address Nigeria’s IT challenges.
“Nothing is casted on the stone, if you have a strong conviction that this theme should be amended please do not hesitate to suggest another one to us,” he stressed.
On GITEX, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami charged the committee members to improve on Nigeria’s presence at the annual Technology and Investment gathering of over 200, 000 people from more than 145 countries.
The committee must explore new ways through which the country can leverage the opportunities in GITEX to bring the much-desired benefits and goals for participating in GITEX.
He urged members drawn from across sectors to think out new ways of bolstering the country’s image globally and seeking investments in the technology sector where Nigeria and her growing number of startups have demonstrated great potentials.
