In a resounding call for digital preparedness, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged the Ondo State Government to equip its citizens with digital skills and provide essential digital infrastructure.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, delivered this message during a virtual summit, “Develop Ondo 2.1,” organized by the state’s Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations.
Inuwa emphasized the need for Ondo State to position its people for the jobs of the future, stressing the importance of prioritizing education and building digital skills.
He highlighted the state’s abundant human capital and underscored that digital transformation can only yield a significant impact if the populace is ready to participate in the global digital economy.
Addressing the evolving nature of technology, Inuwa urged the state government to embrace new technologies continually.
He emphasized the necessity of creating an enabling environment for increased efficiency and innovation, pointing out that this requires critical public digital infrastructure to facilitate digital innovation.
Inuwa proposed several initiatives for Ondo State, including establishing a technological hub akin to “Yaba” in Akure, and fostering Public-Private Partnerships for digital talent development programs.
Additionally, he proposed incorporating the National Digital Literacy Framework into the state’s education curriculum, organizing innovation challenges for startups, and engaging the diaspora to mentor startups.
While encouraging the state to consider a partnership with NITDA, Inuwa highlighted the potential for Ondo to become a hub for talented innovators whose contributions could impact the global digital economy, creating wealth and job opportunities within the domestic economy.
Commending the state and the organizers for the initiative, Inuwa described the event as a “momentous occasion to deliberate on ways to harness the abundant opportunities that digitization and technological innovation offer.”
The call from NITDA highlights the agency’s commitment to fostering digital innovation ecosystems across states in Nigeria.