NITDA, Sierra Leone plan effective cross-border collaboration on improved digital ecosystem 

*Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency and Sierra Leonean Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovations mull effective collaboration towards actialising ‘Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration’ pillar outlined in Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan across the African continent

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has affirmed the agency’s commitment to effective  collaboration with Ms. Salina Bah, Minister for Communications, Technology and Innovations in Sierra Leone, towards actualising the “Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration” pillar outlined in the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0 2024-2027).

Inuwa stated this while conveying NITDA’s dedication to fostering Innovation without inhibition in this regard.

Representing at the two-day stakeholder engagement in Abuja, FCT, by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy Department at NITDA, the Director-General of the IT sector regulatory agency also emphasised the significance of co-creation, stakeholder engagements, and innovation in driving NITDA’s regulatory agenda in Nigeria.

The agency noted Inuwa further highlighted the necessity of collaboration among various stakeholders within and beyond the public sector and elaborated on the establishment of the Digital Transformation Working Group within each government ministry.

According to him, this collaborative effort aims to ensure the relevance of policies, frameworks, and guidelines across governmental agencies.

As regards NITDA’s approach to regulating Information Technology matters in the Nigerian digital ecosystem, the Director-General further stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement and understanding their needs, problems and fears.

He underscored the significance of developing laws and policies that address these concerns effectively.

In addressing the monitoring of service delivery, Inuwa recommended an annual submission of IT plans by government agencies to ensure alignment with Agency’s objectives and highlighted the Agency’s use of IT clearance as a swift mechanism for enforcing standards in the country.

Also speaking, Sierra Leonean Minister Bah also underscored the importance of collaboration in propelling Africa forward in emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain.

She stated the need for Africa to leverage these technologies for mutual benefit rather than being mere consumers.

Reflecting on the two-day engagement, Bah expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from NITDA’s expertise in policy implementation, digital development, and enforcement of standards and guidelines, particularly in the area of technology clearance and compliance.

The Minister affirmed that the meeting between NITDA and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communications, Technology, and Innovations signifies a pivotal step towards fostering cross-border collaboration and advancing digital innovation within the African continent.