In a move to further strengthen Nigeria’s cyberspace and enhance digital trust as enshrined in its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed readiness to collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with the aim of enhancing digital identity, the payment ecosystem, and securing seamless exchange of data in the country.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, disclosed this development during a working visit to Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of NIMC, to discuss the various initiatives that centered on building the DPI stacks for a secure and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
Emphasising that the collaboration will harness the potential of the technology innovation ecosystem, Inuwa maintained that the use of public key infrastructure would also help to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
The NITDA Chief Executive also took the opportunity to provide insights into the agency’s strategic roadmap and action plan.
He noted that the Information Technology (IT) sector regulator is evolving, as this has informed its decision to keep re-imagining itself.
The agency, Inuwa disclosed, recently re-crafted its vision and mission to reflect the current realities in the industry.
According to him, the NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027) 2.0 is anchored on eight pillars, which include; Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talents, Building a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem, Strengthening Policy Implementation and Legal Frameworks, Promoting Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services, Enhancing Cybersecurity and Digital Trust, Nurturing an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Forging Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations, and Cultivating a Vibrant Organisational Culture with an Agile Workforce.
In her remarks, Engr. Coker-Odusote, Director General of NIMC, also expressed the enthusiasm of the Commission to collaborate with NITDA in advancing the digital economy sector.
She emphasised that “no institutions can implement all its policies and programs in isolation, we need each other to achieve the set targets.”
Engr. Coker further informed the gathering that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had signed a circular on data integration and harmonisation of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and on PKI for growth and development of the country.
The highlight of the meeting was the inauguration of a 12-man committee that is saddled with the responsibility of kick-starting and harmonising the initiatives and the committee is 7 to deliver a comprehensive implementation report in the coming weeks, according to NITDA.