THURSDAY, 14th October, 2021: The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has emphasised the importance of digital literacy as a solution to the challenges facing the country.
The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi made this call during the 2021 National Innovation and Software summit organised by the Nigeria Association of Computing Students (NACOS) in collaboration with Financial Services Innovators (FSI), in Abuja the nation's capital.
Abdullahi who spoke on the theme “Technology Renaissance for Innovations and Productivity” maintained that digital literacy was present at the very core of diversification and growth of the economy, reduction of poverty and job creation.
According to him, equipping Nigerian youths with the necessary digital skills would facilitate Nigeria’s transition to a digital economy. He added that about 200,000 Nigerians have been empowered with digital skills.
He said, “The global economy is now driven by technology. The richest countries are making money from the digital economy, not resources. Innovation is about invention and commercialisation. Invention costs money but innovation makes money.
“We have so many initiatives which we use to help people develop soft skills, expose them to networks, and new ecosystems.
“We collaborate with stakeholders to organize this kind of event to empower Nigerian youth to come up with innovative solutions to solve our problems. This is the only way that can lead us out of poverty, and create prosperity because globally developed countries prioritise innovation."
The Executive Director of Financial Services Innovators (FSI), Aituaz Kola-Oladejo also added that the organisation was poised to create an environment for young innovators to thrive.