The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting and catalyzing the emergence and growth of the innovation ecosystem in Northern Nigeria. Inuwa made this declaration during a Stakeholders’ Engagement on the State of the Northern Innovation Ecosystem held in Abuja.
The Director-General, in his keynote address, acknowledged the relatively low visibility of the innovation ecosystem in Northern Nigeria, despite being a hub of innovators, creatives, startups, and success stories. He emphasized the need for strategic partnerships to address challenges and leverage opportunities for the overall development of the region.
“This platform has spurred the necessary conversations that we need to have to tackle some of the bottlenecks that have over the years stifled the growth of the ecosystem in the region,” Inuwa stated.
Aligning the discussions with the Federal Government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration priority areas, particularly in accelerating diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation, the Director-General affirmed NITDA’s commitment to supporting economic growth in the North and Nigeria as a whole.
Inuwa expressed hope that the Northern Innovation Ecosystem would play a pivotal role in addressing regional challenges such as job creation, agricultural problems, healthcare, transportation, and education. He highlighted the large market potential in the North, given its young population, and underscored the importance of harnessing this demographic dividend.
The Director-General outlined NITDA’s strategic roadmap and action plan, emphasizing pillars focused on nurturing an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem and forging strategic partnerships and collaborations. He urged collaborative efforts between the government and the innovation ecosystem to co-create solutions and build trust.
To address funding challenges, Inuwa encouraged innovative approaches and emphasized the agency’s plans to establish Technology Development Zones and innovation hubs across the country. The Director-General assured the audience of NITDA’s support in providing interventions, building talent, and infrastructure in underserved communities.
In response to identified challenges, Inuwa challenged innovators not to be deterred, emphasizing the silver linings in every difficulty. He announced NITDA’s plans to establish innovation hubs outside of universities, creating a framework for effective management and collaboration with the ecosystem.
The Head of Experimentation at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Jamila Mohammed, emphasized the importance of engaging key players in the innovation space to address developmental challenges in the region.
She called for collective efforts to position the Northern Ecosystem for accelerated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement.
Stakeholders at the event echoed the significance of the Northern Ecosystem Working Group (NEW-G), established in collaboration with UNDP, as a crucial platform for nurturing and fueling the Northern Innovation Ecosystem with strategic initiatives.
