In August 2019, the federal government of Nigeria appointed Mr Kashifu Abdullahi as the new Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) with the target of advancing the country’s digitalization drive and building a robust information communication technology ecosystem.
Until his appointment, he was the principal officer at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and was on secondment to NITDA as a Technical Assistant to his predecessor and current Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami.
With a giant success recorded under the leadership of the previous administration, there was a desire and need to build on the achievements of his predecessor hence his appointment as the leader of the information communication technology regulatory agency.
Since taking over as NITDA Director-General, there has been an excellent implementation of the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap for the Development of Nigeria’s IT Sector, as envisioned by Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, as well as the implementation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s core vision of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) through Information Technology
Within a short time, Mr Kashifu Abdullahi has surpassed all expectations and delivered the core mandate of deepening the Federal government of Nigeria’s digital economy agenda for the country’s economic growth. He has shown both administrative leadership skills and intellectual acumen in his sector.
One of the agenda of the present administration was to further expand its mandate and capture the goals of digitalisation of the Nigerian economy in line with the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP). This is one of motives for the appointment of Kashifu with the believe he will contribute to the repositioning of the ministry with a strategic objective while accelerating growth and social inclusion.
He has steadily built on the foundation laid by the previous holders of that post, driving the Agency to fulfill its fundamental mandate in accordance with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
In this piece, TechBerg reviews and assesses the achievements of Kashifu in the last few years he has been appointed as the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency.
Strategic Road Map and Action Plan 2021-2024
Under Kashifu’s skillful leadership, the Nigerian National Public Key Infrastructure was launched. During the agency’s 20th anniversary, the NITDA Strategic Road Map and Action Plan 2021-2024 was announced, which is in line with the digital economy policy and plan for a digital Nigeria.
This action roadmap is to efficiently operate a digital economy and was designed by the agency as the fulcrum of digital economy development.
Establishment of National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
NITDA under Mallam Kashifu has consistently offered digital gadgets and equipment to Nigerians and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as furnished and maintained digital economy centers situated across the country’s 36 states. As a result, ground-breaking initiatives have emerged, such as the creation of the nation’s first National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, which will oversee the nation’s ability to fully harness the AI industry’s vast potential. It has also been noticed that the national policy on virtual engagement in public service has been implemented smoothly.
Construction of Digital Hubs and Tech Facilities
More than 940 digital capacity centers, IT hubs, innovation and incubation parks, and IT community training centers have been built across the country. There are also initiatives such as Start-Up Friday, Start-up Clinic, FutureHack, the NITDA Graduate Internship Program, and craftsman training. On May 12, 2022, NITDA became the lone government entity to receive the coveted National Productivity Order of Merit Award, demonstrating that Kashifu’s influence as a revolutionist had not gone unnoticed.
Kashifu has spoken extensively about the pillars captured in the SRAP, namely Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Digital Transformation; Digital Innovation & Entrepreneurship; Cybersecurity; Emerging Technologies; and Promotion of Indigenous Content, in his numerous public presentations. Without a doubt, his accomplishments as Director General of NITDA, particularly in the application of IT Regulation in the industry during the previous three years, are unprecedented. He demonstrates his commitment by ensuring that Nigeria maintains an automated IT Project Clearance (ITPC) system and the development of user accounts for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), saving the Nigerian Federal Government billions of naira. As the Director General of NITDA, Inuwa has demonstrated that Nigeria has the potential to be Africa’s greatest digital economy.
Implementation of Core Infrastructural Project
Soon after taking office, with his persistence and passion for the idea of an ICT-enhanced economy, Kashifu implemented more than 300 infrastructure projects in the ICT industry in his first year. NITDA has rightly been called the most significant parastatal in the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. He has positioned NITDA as a prominent IT regulatory agency capable of competing with other global IT regulatory agencies. In addition, his policies have transformed the agency into a well-informed, well-respected, laser-focused, and success-driven business promoting Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.
Contribution to the Establishment of Nigeria Data Protection Bureau
It’s of a fact that he continued, under Prof. Pantami’s visionary leadership, to facilitate the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), which resulted in the foundation of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB). This initiative elevated NITDA’s profile on the international scene, gaining it the post of Vice Chair of the African Union Policy and Regulatory Initiative for Digital Africa (PRIDA). He is well-versed in the global ICT landscape, and he is well aware of the obstacles, restrictions, and restraints that keep Nigeria, a country of over 200 million people, trailing behind in the expanding world of the digital economy.
National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) Programme
NITDA created a variety of techniques to help the government continue its regular operations electronically. Despite the obstacles provided by COVID-19, Kashifu continues to give capable leadership to NITDA in carrying out its mandate of regulating, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and developing the Nigerian IT sector and digital economy. During his three years as Director General, the Agency unearthed and developed the potential of Nigerian farmers through the Federal Government’s concept of the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), a project aimed at altering the face of the agricultural sector in the country.
Establishment of the National Adopted School for Smart Education
The National Adopted School for Smart Education (NASSE) was also established by the NITDA to encourage digital literacy and skills. The trial initiative helped 500 kids and 30 instructors at Junior Secondary School Karshi. The Agency also oversaw the digital literacy and phone repair training of thousands of Artisans across the six Geo-Political Zones. The Agency trained women in ICT and Entrepreneurship; gave Laptops (with pre-installed e-learning & graphics Software), Internet Dongles & Bag-Packs; established direct and indirect jobs; and trained hundreds of Nigerians in Software, Mobile App & Web Development, and Entrepreneurship.
