NITDA to collaborate with Baze University on innovation, entrepreneurship
By Ogaga Ariemu
In its commitment to implementing the Strategic RoadMap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2020-2023 of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a pillar in the SRAP document, has been identified as one of the driving forces to place Nigeria as a key entrepreneurial country in Africa. This would form the basis for collaboration between thin e-Agency and Baze University.
The Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, made this assertion at the 1st Baze University’s ‘Information Technology, Research, and Innovation week.’ He stated that NITDA is putting a lot of efforts and resources in ensuring that the bulk of graduates from universities and other tertiary institutions are focused on creating jobs rather than seeking for jobs.
The NITDA Boss who was represented by the National Director of National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, NCAIR, Engineer Yau Garba, affirmed that the Agency, being the IT regulator in the country, and through the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, is working with startups as key contributors to developing an entrepreneur economy.
Inuwa stated that major subsidiaries of NITDA that cater for entrepreneurial activities are the Office for IT Innovation and Entrepreneurship OIIE and the Office for Nigerian Content ONC which were merged to become Office for Nigerian Digital and Innovation ONDI.
“We also have the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, whose core mandate is to conduct Research and Development in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence AI, Drones, Block Chain, Internet of things IoT, etc.”
He added that other activities of the Centre focuses on Capacity Building and Partnerships with relevant Agencies and Universities in areas of national interest that challenge the nation.
Referring to the topic of the session “Challenges and Opportunities of Entrepreneurship Startups,” Kashifu mentioned that the Agency deals with companies that have global impact to solve challenges and create entrepreneur opportunities.
“While the focus is not about profiting,” he explained that ventures like Risk Capitalists and Angel Investors promote businesses that produces substantial number of jobs such as Uber, Jumia and the Nigerian unicorns like Flutterwave and Paystack need to be replicated as much as possible to ensure a digital economy.
Kashifu mentioned that the Agency has the support of some international organizations like Japan International Cooperation Agency on new models for incubation and acceleration programmes.
“We have a project called ‘Hives.’ The idea is to build Centres within the Universities to support students’ and the lecturers’ learning and research development.”
He further noted that the Centre would be based on practical and not the usual courses on entrepreneurship to ensure the promotion of true entrepreneurial activities right from the University towards industrialization.
Inuwa in his closing charged the students to look forward to being a force in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, “Nigeria must not be left behind, hence, the reason we are looking forward to collaborating with Baze University in search of people who are willing to take risks and scale their ideas to provide jobs and create innovations that would make the world a better place.”
