By Adewole Kehinde
“Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” – Peter Drucker
Abdullahi Kashifu Inuwa was named the fifth Director-General/CEO of NITDA by President Buhari on August 20, 2019. Only 39, he was. For those who have watched his professional development, Abdullahi demonstrates both administrative leadership skills and intellectual acumen in his sector.
Kashifu has successfully led NITDA for three eminent years, and at this time, I must reflect on his accomplishments as a result of his use of practical experience and excellent leadership since taking office. Following his graduation from the prestigious Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Kashifu continued his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a prestigious university known for its extensive tech training and knowledge base.
He then went on to arm himself with professional certifications to deepen his technical knowledge and broaden his capacity from Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, and IMD Business School, respectively, after graduating with honours in IT operations, business transformation, and solution architecture.
In addition to his outstanding achievements in the classroom, he has demonstrated his technical proficiency in both public and private settings, including but not limited to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone, and IP Operations team, where he championed several initiatives aimed at assisting the general public.
Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that he is leading NITDA in such a graceful and glorious way. However, a candid assessment of his achievements since taking office is necessary to encourage other agency heads in the nation about the prospects and potentials hidden in Nigeria as a whole, particularly in the IT sector.
Kashifu Inuwa has achieved significant progress in the short three years after taking over from Prof. Isa Pantami, particularly in the area of presenting the agency as an integral part of the nation’s IT sector.
His dedication and passion for the vision of an ICT-enhanced economy had already paid off soon after taking office. NITDA has logically been named the most significant parastatal in the ministry of communications and digital economy thanks to the implementation of more than 300 infrastructure projects in the ICT industry in just the first year.
His goal is to make NITDA a leading IT regulatory body capable of competing with other worldwide IT regulatory bodies. Additionally, he hopes to make the agency into a knowledgeable, well-respected, laser-focused, and success-driven organization.
The Nigerian National Public Key Infrastructure has also been launched under Kashifu’s capable guidance. The NITDA Strategic Road Map and Action Plan 2021–2024, which is in line with the digital economy policy and strategy for a digital Nigeria and was released on the agency’s 20th anniversary.
In the same way, the idea of a digital Nigeria is getting closer to reality thanks to initiatives like the Digital State Initiative and the National Adopted School for Smart Education (NASSE), among other initiatives that have catered to the country’s youthful population’s capacity development.
Kashifu’s belief that a country must operate in a setting where the youth have a level of competence comparable to that of their counterparts anyplace else in the globe was supported by NITDA’s introduction of a scholarship program. To accomplish this, the agency has prepared more than 2,000 Nigerians for Masters and Doctoral programmes around the globe. It is encouraging because the majority of recipients frequently return home after completing their funded studies.
Without a doubt, his passion for youth development, which he views as a driving force behind the growth and development of the nation, was a major influence on the scholarship program.
In addition to the aforementioned contributions, the agency has constantly provided the Nigerian people and NGOs with digital devices and equipment, as well as outfitted and supported digital economy centers located throughout the nation’s 36 states. As a result, groundbreaking initiatives have been born, such as the establishment of the nation’s first National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, which will oversee the nation’s ability to fully utilize the enormous potential that the AI industry has. A smooth implementation of the national policy on virtual engagement in the public service has also been noted.
Across the nation, more than 940 digital capacity centers, IT hubs, innovation, and incubation parks, and IT community training centers have been constructed. Additionally, there are initiatives like Start-Up Friday, Start-up Clinic, FutureHack, the NITDA Graduate Internship Program, and training for craftsmen. He oversaw NITDA, which carried out several projects that saved the country billions of Naira. When NITDA became the sole government organization to win the coveted National Productivity Order of Merit Award on May 12, 2022, it was clear that Kashifu’s influence as a revolutionist had not gone ignored.
Moving the agency forward, securing funds, igniting his team’s passion, cultivating a culture of trust, assisting in the achievement of important agency targets, and figuring out how to succeed now while influencing tomorrow are among Kashifu’s top strategic objectives in the past three years of his sterling leadership at NITDA.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters. He can be reached via 08166240846, 08123608662
