The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, has highlighted two strategies needed for the exploration to build Digital Nigeria with a “robust corresponding Digital Economy”.
Mr Inuwa stated this during the 2nd Nigeria Data Summit which took place virtually under the theme: ‘Leveraging National Data for Nigeria’s Digital Economy Development’.
According to him, the first strategy is for the Federal Government to understand the digital needs and peculiarities of its citizens and develop policy and strategy towards meeting these needs.
“Secondly, we need a solid strategy for the exploration and management of our vital resource that drives Digital Nation and Digital Economy, which is data.
“Our Ministry has already achieved the first strategy under the leadership of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the HM of Communications and Digital Economy,” Mr Inuwa added.
Speaking on the summit, the director-general said the desire for the country to meet the second need informed his Agency’s resolve for organizing the Summit.
“The essence of this Data Summit is to help us as a country meet the second criteria for building a successful digital nation and its corresponding digital economy —that is, a solid strategy for data exploration and management.
“Consequently, we are going to leverage the outcome of this summit and other existing national data regulations, guidelines, standards, and policies to develop a solid national data exploration and management strategy for our digital landscape,” he noted.
According to him, the strategy, when developed, will be channeled towards achieving the objectives.
“Firstly, identify action items to transform the Nigerian big data landscape and help the government to develop the capabilities required for effective data exploration and management.
“Secondly, to develop a comprehensive and time-bound roadmap of how we are going to explore and manage our big data.
“Thirdly, to come up with an execution plan on how to close the gap between where we are currently and where we desire to be in the area of data exploration and management,” Mr Inuwa disclosed.
He, therefore, expressed optimism that when the country is fully digitized, President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promise of tackling insecurity, corruption and boosting the economy would be actualized.
“If we harness data exploration, it will help us to improve our economy, fight corruption, and insecurity smartly,” Mr Inuwa stressed.
