NITDA seeks experts’ inputs on emerging ICT Innovation, Entrepreneurship policy
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under the current administration of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has invited industry stakeholders and the general public to contribute strategic inputs that will power the ongoing final review of ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship policy document.
In a statement issued by Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, NITDA noted that “In an effort to enrich the document and in line with the Agency’s policy of participatory regulation, industry stakeholders and the general public are invited to review the document through either of the following (i) on the consultation tool at https://niiev.ictinnovation.gov.ng(ii) via www.nitda.gov.ng and click important notice(iii) via facebookchatbot at http://m.me/ngrinnovationor simply send an email to info@ictinnovation.gov.ng”.
She added that “All the portal for the review are open from 13th November 2018 to 27thNovember, 2018”.
Business Hilights recalls that NITDA had hosted the maiden edition of the ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship stakeholders meeting on the 31stOctober 2017. The objective of the meeting was to collectively identify the challenges of stakeholders and identify strategies to address them for a thriving technology ecosystem. Several representatives from Government, Hubs, banks, investor networks, academia, media and technology entrepreneurs were in attendance.
Besides, recently, President Muhammadu Buhari at e-Nigeria 2018, charged NITDA to develop policies and strategies that will change Nigeria’s narrative from being a tech-consuming to a tech-producing country.
Presidency further charged the agency to unlock our national potential and proposes a number of urgent measures to connect, educate and enable digital innovation. This birthed the Nigeria ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Vision (NIIEV).
The NIIEV comprise of policy recommendations and incentives on the key components for building a tech ecosystem and are categorised into 3 themes:
(1) Digital Infrastructure
(2) Education Reform, skills Development and R&D; and
(3) Supporting the Ecosystem for Innovative Entrepreneurship.
NITDA had through its subsidiary, the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) worked directly with entrepreneurs, hubs and hub networks to review the best practices across Africa and around the world to support digital transformation in Nigeria.
As part of the Agency’s rulemaking process, the document has been subjected to internal reviews by some key Government agencies where insightful feedback and updates were received.
It is believed that stakeholders input will further deepen the richness of the document ahead of gazetting it into operational policy.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is a Federal Government Agency established in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology policy and coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country.
