The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, has stressed the importance of collaboration in unleashing Nigeria’s potential in the Internet of Things (IoT) field.
Abdullahi, who spoke during his keynote address at the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition 2023 in Lagos State, highlighted the challenges that need to be overcome, including infrastructure, cybersecurity and data protection, particularly in relation to cloud-based solutions such as Alexa and Google.
According to Abdullahi, today’s computer systems are surpassing human capabilities in various domains, exemplified by the rise of generative AI and Chat GPT. This shift signifies the increasing physical, biological and digital convergence. Referring to a McKinsey report, Abdullahi stated that IoT has the potential to generate between USD 5.5 trillion and USD 12.6 trillion US dollars in value across industries by 2030. Furthermore, he pointed out that the number of connected devices now exceeds the global population, as reported by Cisco.
Abdullahi emphasised the applicability of IoT in agriculture, particularly in increasing agricultural productivity with minimal human effort. He cited the use of wearable plant sensors, which are among the top technologies in 2023. These sensors can be attached to plants to monitor and manage their health, watering, fertilisation and pesticide application, leading to improved food production. In line with the World Economic Forum’s call to increase global food production by 70 per cent in the next seven years for food security, Abdullahi highlighted the urgency for Nigeria, considering its rapid population growth. By 2050, Nigeria is projected to become the world’s third-largest population, making it crucial to explore IoT solutions to boost food production.
In addition to agriculture, Abdullahi discussed the role of IoT in addressing security challenges. IoT devices can monitor activities and movement patterns, and enable geo-fencing to prevent incidents such as farmer-herder conflicts and kidnappings. Furthermore, he highlighted the potential of IoT in enhancing oil theft prevention by monitoring pipelines and facilitating quick security responses.
In the healthcare sector, Abdullahi mentioned that wearable IoT devices, which currently monitor heartbeats and blood pressure, are invaluable for telemedicine, providing information to medical practitioners. These devices also assist individuals with disabilities and senior citizens as an initial source of health consultancy.
Abdullahi acknowledged the absence of locally manufactured IoT devices in Nigeria and stressed the need for infrastructure development, including data centres and cloud solutions, to store IoT data. He also emphasized the importance of nurturing talent within the country to achieve digital sovereignty and independence in digital offerings.
The NITDA director-general called for a collaborative approach involving the government, private sector, and all stakeholders to address these challenges and promote IoT solutions. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to working with the ecosystem to co-create policies and regulations, moving away from a solely government-led approach.
In conclusion, Abdullahi emphasised the necessity of collaboration to unlock Nigeria’s IoT potential. By addressing infrastructure, cybersecurity, and talent development, Nigeria can harness the transformative power of IoT, leading to advancements in various sectors and contributing to the nation’s digital growth.
