By Smart Omorogbe
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Independence Digital, a Russian company have started fine-tuning possible areas of collaboration for software development to digitally transform Nigeria.
This is coming even as NITDA restates its commitment to the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) through collaborating with relevant stakeholders.
According to Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, said the promotion of indigenous content is a key pillar in the agency’s Strategic Road Map and Action Plan (SRAP) 2021-2024.
SRAP has therefore ignited the DG’s zeal to relentlessly seek collaborations within the innovation entrepreneurial ecosystem in ensuring that indigenous startups are provided with the adequate motivation in conceiving and conceptualizing their ideas into impacting innovations.
The DG who was represented by the agency’s Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, received a team from Independence Digital, a Russian organization that specializes in software development led by Mr. Paul Maximeak, to discuss possible areas of collaboration and partnership.
Inuwa, while briefing the Russian visitors, stated that the NDEPS, a 10-year policy plan was launched in 2019 by the federal government of Nigeria to digitally transform the nation.
He further said that it was necessary to come up with policies and regulatory instruments which will help develop the sector in many ways. “Since we are talking about software development, we need to come up with software related policies, standards and frameworks that will meet up with international standards”, he noted.
The DG stressed that MDAs need to digitalize their operations and therefore sought for collaboration with the Russian outfit.
He stated that indigenous content development and promotion remains a primary focus of the agency, adding that this necessitates collaborations with the company.
“As Russia doesn’t use solutions developed outside Russia, we in Nigeria would love to collaborate with you so that you can help us achieve this.”, he stated.
Inuwa, assured of NITDA’s willingness to share other open documents such as the cloud computing policy and the national broadband implementation plan with the visitors while emphasizing that the NITDA SRAP will remain the primary focus.
He concluded that the idea of the regulations was not to stifle innovations and it was therefore necessary to co-create and work with developers who will understand the needs and create regulatory instruments as well as frameworks that will support the regulations.
In a remark, Maximeak, appreciated NITDA for meeting them and assured the agency of their collaboration in areas of capacity building to improve the Nigerian Infrastructures already built.
He stated that their organization which is a certified partner of most major Russian software developers such as the Kaspersky Lab, eXpress, Infowatch, Security Code and others is excited about collaborating with NITDA on software development.
“We will provide solutions to your challenges and arrange for our engineers to meet with yours in building a supportive framework.” he promised.
