The federal government has assured Nigerians that it is committed to the implementation of the Ease of Doing Business policy using advanced technology.
The Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of the federal government, noted that implementing the Ease of Doing Business policy has become more necessary as technology has paved the way for many e-commerce businesses to thrive, hence creating wealth and jobs to millions of people around the globe.
Abdullahi disclosed that NITDA has identified capacity building as one of the key pillars and strategic road map for ICT development for entrepreneurship, which is why NITDA is widening its scope and working on a framework to ensure Nigeria has turned to technology for businesses.
“We are committed to the total commitment towards achieving the Federal Government’s policy of Ease of Doing Business using advanced technology,” Abdullahi said while hosting the Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwale in his office in Abuja.
He added that NITDA is creating a new digital industry that can support Nigeria’s digital economy through training of startup businesses by providing incentives and intervention, train startups and give them the skills they need.
Inuwa also disclosed that NITDA, in the last couple of years, has trained Nigerian youths, men and women on computer skills and equally empowered and distributed digital working tools to the beneficiaries, for them to become self-reliant and also train their neighbours, family and friends. According to him, this is part of NITDA’s ‘Train the Trainer’ project.
“We are all aware that the Federal government is ready to create an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs, and NITDA is at the forefront of its realisation. Next month, we are going to Lagos State, probably on 9th March, we will meet with entrepreneurs and growing tech-business to see how we can assist them with some interventions,”
“At NITDA, we are working in line with the new strategy from the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and we are focusing on some key strategic initiatives, one of them is Developmental Regulation to create job opportunities for Nigerians,” he said.
The DG further assured that the Agency’s door is always open for collaborations and partnerships from well-meaning Nigerians who are ready to contribute their own quota in developing Nigeria’s new policy towards achieving Digital Economy.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwale said she took her time to visit the agency in order to brainstorm on the areas of job creation, especially small scale businesses.
She said, her office focuses on initiating and developing key strategies to ease doing business in Nigeria.
Dr. Oduwale also commended the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami who supervises Nigeria’s Communication sector, for his commitment towards digitalising Nigeria.
She, however, appealed to the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE to pinpoint at least two or three crucial areas that can directly have monetary effects on local entrepreneurs in the country.