NITDA committed to research, AI-driven solutions to national challenges –Inuwa

*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, says the agency’s partnership with the Nasarawa State University, in Keffi, is expected to accelerate innovation in tech sector, empower students with digital skills, and contribute to national development through research-driven solutions

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering collaboration among researchers, technology experts, and academics to tackle national challenges through innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, stated this during a visit by the Management of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), led by Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, Vice-Chancellor of NSUK, to the NITDA Corporate Headquarters, in Abuja, FCT.

Inuwa emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between academics, engineers, and entrepreneurs to address pressing national issues, such as environmental sustainability, public health, and infrastructure.

The Director-General noted this aligns with the agency’s mission to build a robust technology research ecosystem, with a focus on Digital Literacy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Research & Development (R&D), and also supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also affirmed the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises digital transformation and equipping students with future-ready skills.

ConsumerConnect reports Inuwa disclosed in a bid to institutionalise the partnership, both NITDA and NSUK have agreed to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive impactful initiatives and ensure sustainable, long-term collaboration between the two organisations.

The Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency also noted the partnership is expected to accelerate innovation in Nigeria’s tech sector, empower students with digital skills, and contribute to national development through research-driven solutions.

Inuwa further highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) beyond office automation, particularly in healthcare and agriculture.

He stated: “Imagine developing a bot that can provide quality health services to our remote areas.

“One of the challenges we are facing in our healthcare system is the lack of professionals. It’s difficult to get specialist doctors everywhere, but AI can help fill this gap.”

He referenced a recent research study in Nigeria where AI-powered chatbots, such as ChatGPT, were tested against human doctors in providing medical prescriptions.

The results showed that AI-generated prescriptions were often comparable to, and in some cases even better than, those provided by human doctors.

The NITDA Chief Executive stated: “This underscores the potential of AI in telemedicine, offering accessible and efficient healthcare services to underserved communities. “Beyond healthcare, NITDA believes AI can drive innovations in agriculture, education, and other critical sectors, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to leveraging technology for national development.”

Earlier in her remarks, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan Liman expressed deep appreciation to NITDA for its continued support in strengthening technology research, digital literacy, and innovation at the institution.

Prof. Liman highlighted the significant gains from their collaboration with the agency.

The Vice-Chancellor of NSUK said: “NSUK has been recognised as a pioneer participant in NITDA’s digital transformation programme, a model that the National Universities Commission (NUC) is now working to extend to other universities across Nigeria.

“The University believes the initiative will be a huge success, aligning with its vision of equipping students with digital skills to meet global workforce demands.”

She also explained: “As part of our commitment to advancing technology education, NSUK has established a Digital Literacy Centre at the Faculty of Engineering, where students are working on developing tech gadgets to enhance their skills and competitiveness on a global scale.

“Our goal is to ensure that our students are not only well-prepared for Nigeria but also globally competitive wherever they go.”

Collaboration between NITDA and NSUK continues to strengthen Nigeria’s technology and innovation ecosystem, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the digital economy and future workforce, added Prof. Liman.