Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa has highlighted the potential for increased efficiency and effectiveness in Nigeria’s security sector through collaboration between the security industry and the startup ecosystem.
Inuwa made these remarks while hosting the Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Alhaji A. S Adeleke.
Represented by Deputy Commandant D.E. Egbeji, the visit by the NISS Commandant included faculty members and participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC 17) with the theme “Artificial Intelligence, Security, and Emerging Economies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects,” held at the eGovernment Training Centre (eGTC), Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Kubwa, Abuja.
Inuwa highlighted the unique approaches of the security and information technology (IT) sectors, noting that collaboration could harness the vast opportunities offered by IT, including the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging technologies to strengthen the security sector.
“The way you do things in Security is different from the way we do things in the Information Technology (IT) sector but if we can work together, we can make things better by utilitising the numerous opportunities that IT offers to leverage AI, IoT and Emerging technologies in strengthening the security sector,” he said.
The NITDA DG asserted that AI is a driving force globally, dispelling common misconceptions by emphasising its role in simplifying tasks, providing quick answers, and offering solutions.
He categorized AI into three types based on capability including Narrow Intelligence, General AI, and Deep Learning AI.
Expanding on AI functionality, Inuwa delineated four categories: Reactive Machines, Limited Memory, Theory of Mind, and Self-Awareness.
Inuwa added that NITDA actively supports AI growth in Nigeria through initiatives like the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and the ongoing development of the National Artificial Intelligence Policy.
Expressing openness to strategic collaboration, Inuwa highlighted that such partnerships align with the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), particularly the pillar focused on forging strategic partnerships and collaborations.
He emphasized that synergistic relationships would amplify Nigeria’s digital initiatives and global presence.
“We are open to strategic collaboration as it aligns with a pillar of the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) which is to Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration. And synergistic relationships will amplify Nigeria’s digital initiatives and global presence,” Inuwa added.
Commandant NISS, Alhaji A.S Adeleke in his response, expressed the institute’s intent to learn from NITDA’s experience, seeking valuable insights to inform an executive brief for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is aimed at contributing to policy formulation and implementation.
“We are here to share from your experience and to gather all we can from the beginning of the course because at the end of the course, we are expected to make an executive brief to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that will aid policy formulation and implementation,” Adeleke said.
In his comments earlier, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, offered a comprehensive overview detailing the evolutionary journey of NITDA from its inception to the present day.
He delved into the agency’s historical milestones, charting its growth, development, and transformative initiatives over the years.
He underscored the role NITDA has played in shaping and steering the trajectory of information technology and development in Nigeria, showcasing its commitment to fostering innovation, digital literacy, and technological advancement.
