NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, has stressed the importance of integrating intelligence, security, and sustainability into Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem to drive the nation’s digital transformation. Speaking at the 19th International Conference of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Inuwa emphasized that these three elements are crucial for national progress and global competitiveness.
According to Inuwa, intelligence, security, and sustainability are inseparable drivers of progress. He highlighted that security is the foundation upon which trust is built, which is vital in a digital environment plagued by scams and cybercrime. He compared “innovation without security” to “a high-performance race car without brakes,” underscoring its unsustainability.
Inuwa also noted that intelligence, powered by technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), provides the structure for innovation. He urged Nigerian startups to use these tools to create new value, citing examples like AI-powered wealth management and ML-driven remote diagnostics.
He also pointed to sustainability as a critical component, referencing a call from IFIP President Antony Wong for the Global South to protect indigenous knowledge as it’s digitized and incorporated into AI systems. This emphasizes the need for legal clarity on data ownership to safeguard Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The Director-General highlighted several key initiatives from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) that support this strategic vision:
- National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR)
- Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT)
- Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023
- Human capital development programs like 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) and Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL)
These programs are designed to create a secure, intelligent, and sustainable foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy. The NCS conference itself serves as a platform for professionals to discuss these critical issues and develop solutions for a connected world.