…NBC Seeks NITDA’s support on capacity development
By Dwelleth Morountodun
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have moved to form alliance on Nigeria’s digital transformation
Nigeria’s digital transformation drive is one of the 7 pillars of NITDA’s Strategic Road-map and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024).
Meanwhile, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has solicited NITDA’s support on capacity development to fast-track it digitization of its processes through use of modern digital technology equipment in monitoring media stations.
The NITDA boss, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, reiterated this when he received Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director General of NCAA led a team of aviation experts on a courtesy visit at NITDA’s corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi stated that digital transformation is being engaged using two different fundamentals: digitization and digitalization. While Digitization is the mechanism employed by digital technology to enhance effective processing of product and service delivery, digitalization on the other hand is adaptation of system, processes, using digital technology as a source of inspiration to change operational structure and procedure.”
He said NITDA’s interface with NCAA is aimed at driving both the internal and external processes of the latter as the apex regulatory body for data regulations and development in Nigeria.
Abdullahi added that, in line with keeping up with global trends, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami (while he was the DG of NITDA) enabled the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) Policy in January 2019.
’’At NITDA our believe is that we cannot succeed in isolation, that’s why we have rebranded and changed our core values, mission and vision, our core values are People first, we exist to serve people); Professionalism, whatever we do is according to best practices, and Innovation, we don’t believe in conventional methods, we try to bring something new to our sector,’’ Abdullahi explained.
’’We need our people to understand our objectives to enable the smooth transmission of ideas and application of information technology,’’ he added.
The new drive for the agency, according to Abdullahi, is to engage all MDAs of government to ensure that they have necessary policy, processes, and infrastructure in place to ensure timely service delivery at reduced cost.
’’We are setting up training sessions, first with CEO/MDs of MDAs to enlighten them on digital transformation processes. Thereafter, staff from different departments and units, Procurement, Planning, Administration, Human Resource, etc, would be drafted into the Digital Transformation Technical Working Group (DTTWG),’’ he said.
This group, he said, would work on developing policies that aligns basically with their individual agencies/sector.
He also proffers that each MDAs should have their individual Data Protection Officers (DPOs) who would report directly to the Director General.
The DG, NITDA finally assured the NCAA DG that alliance can be formed on the platform of DTTWG to develop appropriate tool kit and enabling policy that would focus on NCAA vision and mission.
In his remarks, Captain Musa Nuhu disclosed that the motive of the courtesy visit is to strengthen their existing relationship and create synergy as all government agencies are parts of a whole. “It makes life and work easier and efficient,’’ he said.
He applauded all past NITDA’s intervention to his organization and look forward to more collaboration on all possible areas that the two government bodies could foster alliance.
In another development, Abdullahi, has assured the NBC’s Director General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, of his commitment towards realising the commission’s vision of embracing digital technologies in its processes, when the latter paid a courtesy visit to the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters.
He gave assurance of NITDA’s commitment to incorporating NBC into its Digital Transformation Working Group (DTWG) to facilitate capacity building for their personnel and bring them up to speed on ways of having full grasp of the process, when and how to deploy and apply the technology appropriately.
“The SRAP is designed as a template or map to assist the agency in achieving its target plans through the execution of the strategic pillars, and I am optimistic that our collaboration will uplift the actualization its mandates such as digital skills, innovation among others.
He advised NBC to come up with a strategy to develop their idea into reality more especially in the area of content regulations.
In his remark, the DG of NBC stated that the visit is to create mutual understanding and to further intimate NITDA management of his commission’s statutory functions.
He also sought for support and stronger collaboration with NITDA on the use of ICT and Modern Technology in Digital Switch Over (DSO) that takes place in every state of the Federation.
Ilelah thanked the NITDA DG for the kind words and described his words as golden marbles. Abdullahi took DG of NBC for a tour within the NITDA’s digital building and showed him the latest and modern equipment for tracking and curbing possible attacks to Nigeria’s cyberspace.