The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Wednesday said it would partner the Nigerian Institute of Space Engineers (NISE) and other private entities to drive digital transformation in the country.
Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, said this when Mr George Okpanachi, National Chairman of NISE, and some delegates of the institute paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Inuwa said that achieving digital transformation required an efficient use of the vast opportunities embedded in the space technology ecosystem, hence the need to collaborate with the engineers.
“It is a good development for Federal Government agencies to partner private organizations.
“NITDA, as the regulator of IT in the country, has put in place policies and created an enabling environment for producers, professionals to come in and create innovations for digital growth,” he said.
He also said that emerging technologies were now propelling the space technology ecosystem which would engender enormous transformation in the industry.
“Artificial Intelligence and Robotics play a key role in the digital space.
“NITDA through its National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics will collaborate with NISE in coming up with ideas which will transform the country through Research and Development (R&D), Block chain technology, Artificial Intelligence and innovations.
“The agency will give its support in capturing all demography especially the young start-ups in order to create a robust local content which will prepare and position the country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said.
He expressed delight in the partnership, adding that it would drive innovations, as the space technology ecosystem was everywhere and encompassed different sectors such as communications, agriculture and security.
Inuwa said that the agency was looking forward to the collaboration which would help the two organisations to explore ideas and in turn transform the institute into a competitive, global standard institute.
Earlier in his remarks, Okpanachi said he had keenly followed the agency’s dynamism and passion in sustaining a digital Nigeria.
Okpanachi, however, requested for a closer collaboration with the agency on programmes valuable for national and professional development.