By Muib Shefiu
Many people are wondering how Kashifu Inuwa had achieved numerous extraordinary feats in 365 days while some have neither dust their furniture nor unknot the knotty issues left by the past administration. Continuity is a suitable answer to solve that question.
Plainly, Nigeria would behave been one of the most developed countries in the world if government parastatals, agencies and ministries can fashion the best out of the good legacy left by the past administration. If Kashifu can do it, you can also do it. Forget about the wailings and wailers, the masses need the best from you, why can’t you give it to them?
Over the years, one major administrative difficulty faced by Nigerian Agencies is lack of continuity. Continuity and development are inextricable part of one another, they are like two legs of a man; one propels the other. Hence, NITDA has soared above the ailment of discontinuity with the passing of brilliant NITDA leadership administration of Pantami to prodigious leadership of Kashifu.
Indeed, NITDA is home of intellectual IT commanders. Completely, Kashifu Inuwa has proven to be a worthy successor of Dr Isa Ali Pantami and a good ambassador of Not Too Young to Run Bill by achieving tremendously in a year what many would have achieved in numerous years. A cursory glance to a year back would reveal the hypocrisy of the few people who had grumbled and tag it “a political undertone appointment” of an individual who has close to two decades experience in the said field.
A prodigy who had worked and contributed effectively in different IT sectors; public, private including the Central Bank of Nigeria. A man who had come to ensure the canny policy of a digital Nigeria. An intellectual who had achieved brilliant academic feat both at home and abroad. Evidently, under the Kashifu led administration NITDA had succeeded in the protection of Nigeria Data beyond a reasonable doubt through the use of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
An achievement that earned the country a post of Vice-Chair at the African Union Working Group on Data Protection, Harmonization and Localization. Likewise, Kashifu has successfully established a bond between the Agency and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The pact was solidified in order to secure funds for the promotion of the government digital services through the use of The Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture (NGEA) and Nigeria e-Governance Interoperability framework (Ne-GIF). To boost the Gross Domestic Profit of the Nation, NITDA had secured a partnership programme with National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) to create an avenue to equipped indigenous computer manufacturers and to equipped indigenous hardware standard for a better industry.
With a programme like this, the contribution of NITDA to the 14.07% increment of the GDP of the country through ICT cannot be overlooked. Kashifu is a man that believed that empowering youths is the best asset of any country. He has brilliantly carried out capacity building programmes for over four hundred (400) artisans across the country and two hundred (200) IT Centers managers have emerged.
Also, he has marvelously contributed to the continuation of learning philosophy by providing alternatives for youths who have been stuck behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic with the use of NITDA Academy for research and training purposes.
Lastly, Kashifu in a year has improved NITDA structurally and infrastructurally. He had succeeded in building digital centres across the country and he is always at the forefront of edging his skills and his subordinates toward the achievement of a technological advanced Nigeria. We hope to see more and write more of your achievements, keep up the good work Sir and never relent.
Muib Shefiu writes from Gombe
