AHEAD of the global technology event, which Nigeria is
actively taking part on, the National Information Technology Development
Agency, NITDA hosted technology bloggers in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, which was the maiden meeting of
the Acting Director-General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji with Lagos-based
online media/bloggers community, the NITDA boss disclosed that there is the need
to create an enabling environment for the multitude of technology start-ups in
the country and turning Nigeria into a tech-hub in Africa.
He said that is the current focus of the new management
of the NITDA in projecting the image of the country using the value in the new
digital economy.
Olatunji said that NITDA is poised towards creating ‘
ICT based SMEs’ saying that it is a sure way of not only helping to diversify
the economy but also creating youth employment that the Nation urgently needs.
“The way we live and we love and work have gone
online, so there’s need for NITDA to build up capacity to sustain these online
activities and ensure maximum benefits are derived from it”, he said.
He said that Nigeria’s size, English language, and
high rate of education as some of the key advantages potential investors in
this new economy will be looking at.
According to the NITDA boss, the agency is using the
annual GiTEX Technology show organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre, (DWTC)
to showcase the quality and potentials of local technology start-ups.
He said that NITDA is facilitating Nigeria’s
participation at three levels including the Nigerian Pavilion, Nigerian Start-ups
cobs inside the Innovation Hub, and the Gitex Africa Investment Forum being co-managed
by the NITDA and the DWTC.
“All these levels of participation are designed to
ensure maximum exposure to ICT and other non-oil sectors which is a cardinal
economic goal of the current government under President Muhammadu Buhari. Dubai
has become an international hub for business engagements. The NITDA has already
opened talks with several business prospects through the support of the DWTC
and the Consular Office in Dubai.
This is going to be the first time NITDA will be
showcasing tech start-ups at the global show since Nigeria started
participating in Gitex.
While making a pledge to always interact with online
and conventional media on NITDA activities, the he promised to extend all
aspects of media partnership with the Agency which includes training,
empowerment and access to the online media community, describing them as
“veritable agents of change in the digital age”.
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