The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has lauded its partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for significantly elevating Nigeria’s startup ecosystem onto the global stage.
NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, made this revelation during a visit by JICA President, Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, to the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in Abuja.
Inuwa emphasized the partnership’s pivotal role in supporting Nigerian startups through various initiatives. These include sponsoring startups to participate in international tech events, connecting them with Japanese corporations like Mitsubishi, and providing training and mentorship to startup founders. These efforts have directly contributed to job creation and economic growth within Nigeria’s tech sector.
Highlighting NITDA’s significant strides in bridging Nigeria’s digital divide, Inuwa noted the substantial growth in the country’s ICT sector, with over 120 million citizens now having access to computers. He emphasized the potential for a strategic talent pipeline between Nigeria and Japan to address Japan’s aging workforce challenges and leverage Nigeria’s youthful population.
Inuwa outlined NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which focuses on eight key pillars to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation. These pillars include fostering digital literacy, building a robust technology research ecosystem, strengthening policy implementation, promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, nurturing an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem, and building strategic partnerships.
Dr. Tanaka expressed his admiration for NITDA’s dedication and the value of the partnership. He highlighted JICA’s commitment to co-creation and collaboration with organizations like NITDA to address global challenges. Tanaka emphasized the potential for harnessing information technology and artificial intelligence to drive sustainable development and foster innovation among young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.