Nigeria’s sustainable growth, economic diversification, and global competitiveness are all fuelled by innovation, according to Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology growth Agency (NITDA).
During his keynote speech at Nasarawa State University, Keffi’s (NSUK) 8th Annual Research Fair and Exhibition, Inuwa urged academics, business executives, and legislators to embrace disruptive transformational innovation as a means of tackling the country’s problems and realising its enormous potential.
Inuwa, who spoke on the topic of “Disruptive Transformational Innovation; Shaping the Future,” praised NSUK for planning an occasion that supports Nigeria’s goal of development via knowledge-based solutions.
Inuwa, who was represented by Engr Ya’u Garba, Deputy Director, eGovernment and Digital Economy Development Department, praised the university’s growing emphasis on transformation, pointing out that such efforts demonstrate an awareness of the need for significant innovations to solve pressing problems.
While inventions continue to be a fundamental component of scholarly research, Inuwa stressed that their importance rests in their capacity to transcend theoretical investigation and transform into useful improvements.
He clarified that these inventions possess the ability to transform industry, address societal issues, and expedite the advancement of the country.
To ensure that research results result in real benefits for society, he advised universities to place a high priority on innovation and audacious thinking.
Inuwa defined disruptive transformational innovation as a powerful force that has the ability to reshape established systems, procedures, and goods in ways that reconfigure societal roles. Disruptive innovations present completely new paradigms, tackling problems in novel and previously unthinkable ways, in contrast to incremental innovations, which concentrate on enhancing preexisting frameworks.
He gave historical examples of inventions that have profoundly changed human existence and laid the groundwork for contemporary progress, including the printing press, the steam engine, and electricity. Nigeria’s wealth of natural and people resources offers a special chance to use innovation for sustainable development, according to Inuwa. He urged government, business, and academia to work together to create an atmosphere that fosters innovation, backs audacious initiatives, and promotes inclusive growth. According to him, such an environment is essential for encouraging indigenous inventions that might position Nigeria at the forefront of international economic and technical developments.
He also emphasised NITDA’s commitment to innovation through a number of initiatives, such as the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy to improve digital trust and transparency, the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) to digitally transform the agricultural sector, and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to establish a strong AI ecosystem in the nation, among other significant projects that are a part of the Federal Government’s larger plan to establish Nigeria as a global leader in the knowledge economy.
By creating hubs that assist facility-led businesses, encouraging partnerships with industry stakeholders, and providing students with critical technology skills, Inuwa further urged NSUK to strengthen its dedication to innovation. He pointed out that such initiatives will greatly aid in the growth of the country in addition to empowering the university community.
According to Inuwa, Nigeria cannot only embrace innovations from around the world but also develop ground-breaking solutions that have the potential to change the course of both Africa and the world.
To promote sustainable growth, economic diversification, and global relevance, he urged all parties involved in the nation to embrace the transformative potential of innovation.
