The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abdulullahi Inuwa Kashifu has said that the implementation of the Digital Transformation Strategy (DTS), as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari would retain economic growth and increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) faster than the Oil and Gas does.
According to Kashifu, the determination of the Federal Government to key into ICT was basically to diversify the country’s economic, as an enabler to achieve Nigeria development gaol.
The NITDA DG disclose this during the ICT empowerment training and provision of tools to 100 women drawn from the six states of the North Central geopolitical zone in Lafia.
Kashifu who underscores the importance of ICT to nation-building, said Nigeria cannot attain it development goal if she fail to sustained the current reform of President Buhari on ICT.
He revealed that in order to achieve this, the President has directed the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to implement the DTS, which the ministry has identified eight pillars that would help the country in its journey to digital Nigeria, Kashifu added.
He enumerated some of the pillars to include, digital infrastructure, digital platforms, services and Digital skills, hence the training to women in the zone.
The DG who took participants through the rudiments of ICT and how it will enhance the economic well being and uplift their social status, he said that “President Muhammadu Buhari has started a lot of reforms in that direction to prepare Nigeria to be digital economy.”
“One among the reforms is the economic growth and recovery plan, which is a government initiative with three broad objectives; to retain growth, build globally competitive economic and inclusive goal by investing in our own people, because the people are the greatest resources.
“Already, the government has identified ICT as the key enabler to achieve this reform”.
“So far, ICT has taken over oil and gas in term of contribution to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP)”.
Governor Abdullahi Sule in a remark said that it is time for governments to look inward and reduce dependence on mineral deposits and oil and gas.
He noted, “it is not mineral that brings wealth, but actually our knowledge and skills on ICT that brings wealth
“And that is why my government has continued to promote ICT, which government is considering E-government”.
Governor Sule maintained that, as civil servants, ICT will help to be more efficient, more transparent and help to reduce the challenges of fraud.
“People who are honest will not be afraid of ICT and they will not be running away from E-government”.
“Those who are competent and skilful will prefer ICT to ease movement of files and tackle delay,” Governor Sule said.
