The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, has restated the agency’s commitment to support research initiatives and ensure that Nigeria remains at the forefront of advancements in digital governance.
The techno expert, who made this remark at the 17th International Conference on the Theory and Practice of E-Government (ICEGOV2024), held in Pretoria, South Africa, emphasized that the researchers’ participation at the event aligned with the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to leverage technology for economic diversification and enhanced governance.
Kashifu, who represented the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, at the forum where five Nigerian researchers presented their E-Governance innovations, harped on the significance of Nigeria’s representation at the conference, noting that out of 157 submitted papers, only 85 were accepted, reflecting the competitive nature of the event.
According to him, the insights gained from the research could boost technological innovations crucial for Nigeria’s economic diversification and improved governance for socioeconomic well-being of the citizenry and improved performance of the nation’s economy.
The event, organized by the United Nations University and UNESCO, attracted over 336 participants from 49 countries, underscoring the global importance of digital governance.
The showcased research innovations by the Nigerian researched spanned various aspects of digital transformation with primary thrusts of enhancing e-governance and stimulating economic growth through technological innovation.
In her presentation, titled ‘Bridging the Broadband Gap’, Hassana Asuku addressed the digital divide in rural areas by proposing a comprehensive strategy to improve broadband access.
The researcher’s multidimensional approach seeks to enhance economic inclusion and civic engagement, aligning with the government’s push for digital growth.
Also, Adeyinka Adewumi, in his research presentation titled ‘Digital Competency in the Public Sector’, highlighted the challenges posed by low digital skills among civil servants, and recommended a model for targeted training and infrastructure upgrades to accelerate digital transformation.
In addition, Dr. Agbali Mohammed’s research work on ‘Scalable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)’ addressed the institutional barriers to deploying effective DPI in Nigeria, and how to enhance public-private partnerships and improve regulatory frameworks.
In his research work titled ‘Tax Compliance for SMEs’, Dr. Tanimu Garba introduced the Taxpoint platform, designed to simplify tax processes for small businesses, describing the advancement as crucial in understanding the significant role of SMEs in Nigeria’s economy.
The research work on ‘Citizens’ Freedoms in E-Governance’ by Dr. Salihu Ibrahim’s explored how DPI can enhance citizens’ liberties and, addressed some obstacles such as inadequate ICT infrastructure and data privacy concerns.
Experts believe that the contributions of the researchers at the event not only positioned Nigeria as a leading voice in the global conversation on digital governance but also reflected Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable economic growth and improved governance.
