The Director General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi has said that the Agency has refocused its effort to the implementation of the National Digital Economy Strategy.
Abdullahi disclosed this on Thursday during an Online Stakeholder Engagement Workshop on the Draft National Outsourcing Strategy for Nigeria 2020-2025.
The framework, which is currently in draft form, is a follow up to the Nigerian National Outsourcing Policy launched in 2007. The framework is in line with Government initiatives and priority projects such as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, enabling e-Government by 2023, lifting 100 Million Nigerians out of poverty and transforming Nigeria to a knowledge-based economy in the wake of the current global pandemic.
The framework provides a veritable opportunity for promoting an enabling institutional, legal, regulatory, technological and infrastructural environment for sustainable development and rapid growth of IT enabled outsourcing industry in Nigeria.
NITDA on Thursday organised a virtual workshop where the document was presented to stakeholders for their comments and input.
Speaking during the workshop, the Director General of NITDA, Mr. Kasifu Inuwa Abudullahi, said that coronavirus and self-isolation has caused extreme changes in our life, and forced us to change our behaviours and adapt new habits.
He said “Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) offers services such as administration, supply chain management, sales, paralegal, marketing, and customer care services. Players in the business process outsourcing compete in providing reliable and cost-effective services across industries and sectors such as Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, IT and Telecommunications.
“NITDA embarks on this journey to accelerate digital economy and transformion in Nigeria. The journey started in 2017, with the introduction of The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) policy to restore economic growth while leveraging on the talent and knowledge of the Nigerian people, especially the Youth.
“The policy identifies ICT as a key enabler and encourages investment in digital economy. On 23rd October 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR went further and re-designated our Ministry from the Ministry of Communications to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. This single action has put Nigeria on the global map of digitally competitive nations.
“Under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the implementation of the Nigerian Digital Economy Policy and Strategy is getting top priority with launch of the National Broadband plan and Digital Nigeria Capacity Building programme. These are part of the efforts to bring the Digital Services Industry to the forefront of the economic diversification programme of President Muhammad Buhari’s administration,
“In consistent with this, NITDA is presenting a draft National Outsourcing Strategy to you the expert for review. The strategy is in line with Government initiatives and priority projects such as the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, Digitization of government services, lifting Nigerians out of poverty and transforming Nigeria to a knowledge based economy in the wake of the current global pandemic.
“The strategy aims to foster an enabling institutional, legal, regulatory, technological and infrastructural environment for sustainable development and rapid growth of IT enabled outsourcing industry in Nigeria. And we targeting creating over a Million jobs in Nigeria by 2025.
In order to achieve these ambitious targets, the plan is focused on the following 7 critical pillars:
- Infrastructure
- Skill and Human Capital Development
- Branding and Promotion
- Digital Finance and Incentives
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Trust, Privacy and Security
- Multi Stakeholder Governance
“At this juncture, it is my pleasure to present to you the draft document for your expert review and input to make it richer. We value stakeholders’ input because collaboration is one of our strategic capabilities in NITDA”, the DG added.
