In an effort to uplift Africa from poverty and stimulate economic growth, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced its collaboration with engineering professionals across the continent to incorporate emerging technologies, services and knowledge into engineering processes, thereby increasing productivity and customer satisfaction.
The director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, expressed his organisation’s commitment to embracing innovative tools and practices in engineering. He emphasised the global impact of emerging technologies on the design and development of equipment, asserting that Africa must adopt these advancements to optimise its engineering processes.
Abdullahi stressed the importance of bridging the gap between information technology and engineering. This convergence would not only reduce research and development costs but also foster real-time innovation, leading to more efficient outcomes. He highlighted the transformation in mechanical engineering, where traditional machines have evolved into smart, connected devices capable of generating data for predictive maintenance and analytics.
Expressing enthusiasm about the collaborative efforts, he emphasised the potential for a multitude of opportunities that would arise from combining ideas and expertise. He acknowledged the significance of Africa’s self-reliance in developing its countries, noting that engineers are natural problem solvers and should take the lead in finding local solutions.
Furthermore, Abdullahi affirmed NITDA’s belief that Africa possesses the necessary resources and capabilities to become a global superpower in the fourth industrial revolution. He encouraged the visiting engineering bodies to cultivate adaptability and resilience to thrive in an era where technology disrupts traditional processes. NITDA has already implemented several initiatives and strategies to bolster innovation within and beyond the country’s borders.
NITDA’s focus on fostering innovation-driven enterprises and nurturing young talent demonstrates its commitment to promoting the global market presence of African solutions. Information technology has revolutionised traditional practices, enabling creative ideas that enhance business value propositions and offer novel problem-solving approaches.
The NITDA boss emphasised the importance of leveraging digital technologies to enhance engineering processes. He urged the visitors to capitalise on the three key capabilities: Ubiquitous Data, which involves collecting, analysing, and commercializing information; Connectivity, which harnesses resources from the physical, digital and biological realms through existential flexibility and processing power, which utilises cutting-edge devices to optimize job processes. With these capabilities, he assured, no goal would be unattainable.
During the meeting, the registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Adisa Bello commended NITDA for its significant achievements and expressed gratitude for the agency’s willingness to collaborate.
Chairman of the Engineers Board of Kenya, Engr. Erastus Mwongera also praised NITDA’s extraordinary work at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR). He viewed NITDA’s accomplishments as benchmarks for enhancing engineering processes in Kenya and the entire continent.
The collaboration between NITDA and engineering professionals holds great promise for Africa’s economic transformation. By embracing emerging technologies and integrating them into engineering practices, the continent can unlock new opportunities, drive innovation and create a brighter future for its people.
