Nigeria, India partner to accelerate innovation, digital growth

*Kashifu Inuwa,  Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency has engaged with Dr. M.M. Tripathi, Director-General of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, India, on knowledge sharing and bilateral cooperation to advance the global digital ecosystem

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a bid to foster collaboration in the digital economy space to activate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of creating a million digital jobs for Nigerians by 2025, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, represented by Kashifu Inuwa,  Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has met with and engaged Dr. M.M. Tripathi, Director-General of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), India.

ConsumerConnect reports the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency in Nigeria Thursday, September 14, 2023, stated that the meeting, which was part of the Federal Government‘s participation in the G20 Summit, in India, was aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the Indian digital economy and explore avenues for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

NITDA disclosed the bilateral discussions covered topics ranging from digital skills development to cybersecurity and innovation.

Speaking on behalf Dr. Tijani, Inuwa expressed his optimism about the prospects of mutual growth, while underscoring the importance of leveraging India’s vast expertise in digital technologies  to bolster up the Nigeria Digital Economy programme.

The agency also said that leaders from both Nigeria and India emphasised that this fresh partnership is not only about bilateral cooperation but also about contributing to the broader global digital ecosystem.

They believed that by joining forces, they can accelerate their respective digital transformations while also playing a more influential role in shaping the global tech space.

In a related development,  the Nigerian delegation also paid a working visit to the headquarters of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM). Mr. Shivendra Singh, Vice President, Global Trade Development, welcomed the Nigerian team and engaged them in fruitful discussions regarding potential areas of collaboration in the tech ecosystem.

Singh highlighted India’s thriving software and service industry, which has earned a global reputation for excellence. He expressed his enthusiasm for working with Nigeria to identify trade partners and explore synergies that could benefit both nations.

Inuwa further highlighted  Nigeria’s commitment to building a robust digital economy.

According to him, there are government’s initiatives to support technology innovation and foster a vibrant startup ecosystem in Nigeria and the need for international partnerships to accelerate Nigeria’s progress in the digital space.

Speaking on his country’s experience in the global digital ecosystem, Singh equally acknowledged Nigeria’s growing influence in Africa’s tech ecosystem.

He expressed India’s willingness to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange between Nigerian and Indian tech companies.

Following the positive meetings, the Nigerian and Indian teams agreed to build an execution plan on the identified  areas of cooperation, which include skills development, technology transfer, and business partnerships. The aim is to strengthen bilateral relations and promote sustainable digital economy development.

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