In line with National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS), the design and construction of the state of the art National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurial Centre has been conceived.
The Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami who disclosed this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre, a brainchild of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja on Thursday, added that a successful digital innovation and entrepreneurship programme will support the federal government in the development of its digital economy and the diversification of the country’s economy.
This is yet another giant stride of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards the realisation of the vision of transforming Nigeria into a leading digital economy, providing quality life and digital economies for all, as outlined in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
The Centre is expected to create the required industry environment for teeming youth which would encourage innovation and indigenization of technologies.
It is common knowledge that the rapid growth of unemployed population is due to deficiency in industry sought-after and marketable skills, especially in emerging technologies.
Over the years, emphasis have been placed on certificate more than skills which created a missing link between the industry and the academia.
Indigenization of technologies will help address the continuous reliance on foreign products and services which has negative impact on the economy.
The centre is expected to serve as a bridge between the government, industry, and the academia in providing a research environment for creative idea integration, collaborative environment for the creation of ICT policies, processes and strategies.
This centre will equally provide facilities to nurture new ideas and help develop inquisitive perspective that will create opportunities for entrepreneurs in becoming employers of labour.
It equally expected to focus on promotion and development in ICT which include advanced and applied research; development in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum Computing and also Smart Energy Solutions to drive ICT.
In addition, the centre will allow start-ups to accelerate and experience innovations at scale, through customized visits, design thinking sessions and co-innovation workshops thereby creating a highly collaborative & immersive environment.
It would be recalled that Nigeria is participating in the globally-acclaimed MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (MIT-REAP). The programme provides opportunities for communities around the world to engage with MIT in an evidence-based, practical approach to strengthening innovation-driven entrepreneurial (IDE) ecosystems.
Speaking on some of the achievements of the Ministry, Pantami divulged that the growth of the economy is as a result of the ICT’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, reaching an unprecedented value of 17.83% in Q2 ‘2020 according to National Bureau for Statistics.
According to the Minister, “We have also recorded an all time high broadband penetration since the redesignation of the Ministry. When I assumed office on the 21st of August 2019, the official broadband penetration figures stood at 33.72%. It increased with the subsequent monthly figures from end of August 2019 to end of November 2020, where it stood at 45.07%.
The initial focus of the centre is the Abuja region with the intention of replicating it across all regions of the country, just as it would serve as a link to existing and planned technology hubs across the country to foster innovation and knowledge base ventures, thereby boosting the capacity to create jobs and provide employment for our teaming population as enumerated in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria.
Key objectives of the centre include serving as a catalyst for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship among both the public and private sector organisations as well as the academia; fostering development in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum Computing and Smart Energy Solutions to drive ICT.
Others are provision of enabling environment for technology start-ups to accelerate and experience innovations at scale; fostering the development indigenous businesses to become world class service provider; provision of enabling environment for the promotion of advanced and applied research in Information and Communication Technology (ICT); and facilitating the recognition and encouragement of indigenous innovation in emerging technologies.
As can be seen in the outline above, the centre will be equipped with modern, state of the art facilities that promised to be minimal, modern, functional and comfortable for the use of stakeholders.
Pantami further commended the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, for his effort towards the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and the digital innovation and entrepreneurship initiative.
