The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has joined experts from other parts of the world to drum support for upscaling more transparency, efficiency and productivity in Nigeria’s digital economy quest through blockchain technology.
The director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, made this assertion in his remarks during the BSV Global Blockchain Convention in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where ideas were shared with key global players in the industry to upscale the public blockchain ecosystem.
Speaking as a panellist in the session “Blockchain for Digital Transformation of Nations” at the three-day event, the DG reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to diversifying the country’s economy through the adoption of emerging technologies such as the blockchain technology.
The NITDA boss hailed blockchain technology as an emerging technology which provides a secure, distributed ledger platform for seamless transactions which will acquaint people with vast opportunities, enhanced security and easier traceability.
He further stated that in the implementation of the country’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, the agency, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, developed a draft bill on National Blockchain Adoption Strategy in creating an economically productive and viable digital Nigeria using the blockchain technology.
Abdullahi agreed that the document maps out the strategies needed for the adoption of blockchain technology by the Nigerian government and [fusing same into] its digital transformation agenda.
While giving insights on the economic thrust achieved through the implementation of emerging technologies in the country, Abdullahi, however, noted that ideas shared at the event will be adopted to upscale and fully exploit the potential of blockchain technology in the country.
“As a government, we have the responsibility to make sure Nigerians harness the full potentials of blockchain technology while avoiding its perils,” he concluded.
Other world-class panellists present at the event were the chairman of the Pakistani Board of Investments, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan; founder and CEO, FanFactory Limited, Dana Al-Saleem and the chairman, Exports Vision Consulting, Dr. Basin Zafar.
