The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has said that the future of Digital Innovation and Creativity is very bright in Nigeria.
Pantami said this on Wednesday, 21st April, 2021 while making his remarks at the World Creativity and Innovation Day 2021 with the theme: “Inspiring Creativity and Innovation in the Nigerian Digital Economy”.
The Minister said that Eight hundred participants participated in the pitch challenge of which the best five has been choosing and they are to be awarded with N2Million Naira each and every one of them will get a commendation letter signed by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Information Technology Development Agency.
He assured the winners that the ceremony is not the end of what Federal Government will do for them but rather will ensure that the FG continue to monitor their progress and implores them to be steadfast to be very consistent in challenging themselves particularly in trying to make their own innovation and their own ideas.
Pantami commended the efforts of the National Information Technology Development Agency for organising the event as part of the policy of the Federal Minister of Communications and Digital Economy being implemented by the agency and been approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In his welcome remarks, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said that Innovations, particularly market-creating innovations, have the potential to transform nations and lift them out of poverty. Market-creating innovation pulls infrastructure and investments that can transform the economy and create prosperity.
The NITDA DG reiterated that the telecommunications industry is the most vibrant economic sector in the continent as it has transformed societies and provided jobs to millions of citizens by creating new markets and opportunities.
“At NITDA, we have identified innovation as a critical tool for implementing National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy. We have taken bold steps to drive our nation’s prosperity by boosting digital innovation and entrepreneurship Kashifu said.
He reiterated NITDA’s commitment to fostering digital innovation culture among Nigerians.
“We have several programs and initiatives aimed at boosting the innovative capacity of our youths, which include catch-them-young programs targeted at orienting Nigerian kids to become active players in the digital technology space.
“We are recalibrating our activities to focus on strengthening the Innovation ecosystem, promoting the adoption of emerging technologies for sustainable development, digital job creation, and promoting Nigerian content development and adoption.
Kashifu said that NITDA’s programmes are designed to build innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities across Nigeria while some of the key initiatives specifically designed to support the innovation ecosystem are Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation Support (TIES) Scheme, Bridge MassChallenge Nigeria and MIT-REAP Abuja.
“Another laudable project we initiated is the Entrepreneurship Mentoring Initiative (EMI), designed to provide mentorship services to Nigerian innovators and entrepreneurs the DG said.
The event witnessed presentation of seed fund of Two Million Naira only to each of the 5 winners by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami.
The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise the awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.
