By Samuel Ohwovoriole
The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Kashifu Abdulahhi, has stated that government welcomes private sector collaboration in Nigeria’s drive to achieve Digital Transformation through space technology.
Dr. Abdullahi disclosed this Wednesday in Abuja in his office when he hosted delegates from the Nigerian Institute of Space Engineers (NISEng) led by its National Chairman, Dr. Okpanachi George, who came to seek for possible collaboration with the agency.
The NITDA DG said that it is a good development for federal government agencies to partner with private organizations, adding that NITDA as the regulator of IT in the country, has put in place, policies and created an enabling environment for producers and professionals to come in and create innovations that would sustain a digital Nigeria.
Speaking further he said that contrary to beliefs that satellites are obsolete, emerging technologies are now transforming Space technology ecosystem which will evolve a new chapter and give rise to enormous transformation in the industry.
Dr. Abdullahi said the agency is happy to partner with the NISEng because of his believe that the collaboration will drive innovations, as the Space Technology Ecosystem is everywhere and encompasses different sectors like Communications, Agriculture and Security.
He added that Artificial Intelligence and Robotics play a key role in the digital space and NITDA through its National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) will collaborate with the NISEng in coming up with ideas which will transform the country through initiatives such as the Research and Development, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and Innovations.
The DG added that capacity building is an important factor in research and development and the agency will give its support in capturing all demography especially the young start-ups in order to create a robust local content which will prepare and position the country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He said “the agency is really looking forward to the collaboration because he believes the two organizations will exploit all possible innovations, ideas and commercialize them which in turn will consequently transform NISEng into a competitive, globally standardised institute and sustain a digital Nigeria as a whole.
Earlier in his remarks, Dr. Okpanachi thanked the DG and management staff of NITDA and that he has been following NITDA’s activities for some time and his greatly marveled at the agency’s dynamism and passion in sustaining a digital Nigeria.
He also thanked the DG for sending a representative to the institute’s 10th National Conference and Annual General Meeting in the previous year and seeks a further and deeper collaboration with NITDA on programmes that critical for national and professional development.
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