National Information Technology Development Agency Explained

Agency Name:National Information Technology Development Agency
Jurisdiction:Government of Nigeria
Headquarters:Abuja, FCT, Nigeria
Chief1 Name:Dr. Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, Director General Dr. Vincent Olatunji, Director Corporate Planning & Strategy
Chief3 Name:Mr Christopher Okeke, Director Cyber Security
Chief4 Name:Dr Agu Collins Agu, Director Information Technology & Infrastructure SupportHadiza Umar (Mrs), Head Corporate Affairs & External Relation.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is a public service institution established by NITDA Act 2007 as the ICT policy implementing arm of the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is responsible for developing programmes that cater for the running of ICT-related activities in the country.[1] NITDA is also mandated with the implementation of policies guideline for driving ICT in Nigeria.[2] It plays an advisory role in copyright law by verification and revision of applicable laws in tandem with the application of software and technology acquisition. The majority of these activities are achieved through organization of workshops which cater for the training needs of its staff, government functionaries and education sectors.[3]

History

ICT related activities started in 1950. NITDA was commissioned by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo through the perfection of a bill designed to provide for the establishment of National Information Technology Development in 2007 (NITDA Act).[4] Operations of NITDA started in 2001, six years before the bill was passed into law. The agency's main objective is to provide ICT as a tool in tertiary institution to drive the mechanism of education sector in the country. Its creation has caused establishment of state ICT agencies in other states of Federation such as the Plateau State Information And Communication Technology Development Agency. The agency started its operation in Abuja, FCT with 30 computers. These devices were used for the training of major government functionaries which include the president and his ministers. Within the first three years of establishment, the agency supplied 5700 computers system to over 187 educational institutions in the country which includes: universities, secondary and primary schools.[5] [6]

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NIRDA) is known for introduction of professional training programmes across various states in Nigeria. In 2020, NITDA announced it would train 75,000 youths in Kaduna state in information technology.[7] In 2022, they organized a programme called the "Digital Economy Employability Programme", which is aimed at training over 200,000 thousand Nigerians from all over the country.

Notes and References

  1. Muhammad . Abubakar Sadiq . Kaya . Tuğberk . 2023-03-19 . Factors affecting the citizen's intention to adopt e-government in Nigeria . Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society . 21 . 3 . 271–289 . 10.1108/JICES-05-2022-0054 . 1477-996X.
  2. Book: 2006 Information and Communications for Development Global Trends and Policies. World Bank. January 2006. World Bank Publications . 9780821363478. 5 January 2016.
  3. Web site: NITDA to train 600 youths in software and technology. IT News Africa. 8 January 2016 .
  4. Book: Computing in Research and Development in Africa: Benefits, Trends .... Springer Shop. Abdulaye Gematie. 11 October 2014. 9783319082394. 5 January 2016.
  5. Book: Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria. Patient Idaresit Akpan-Obong. Peter Lang . 2009. Peter Lang . 9781433103100.
  6. Web site: NITDA ACT. NITDA. 8 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150321001039/http://www.nitda.gov.ng/documents/NITDA%20act%202007.pdf. 21 March 2015.
  7. Web site: 2020-07-17. NITDA to Empower 75,000 Kaduna Youths with Digital Skills. 2020-07-18. Vanguard News. en-US.