The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has resolved to consistently focus on prioritising the needs of its stakeholders in formulating policies, programmes and regulatory instruments that will further boost developmental regulation for a sustainable digital economy.
This was the crux of deliberations at a power-packed brainstorming session of the agency’s management at a two-day annual retreat held in Lagos, opining that [it will deploy] a bottom-up approach as a modified method to its stakeholders’ engagement going forward and increase private sector contribution in the formulation of standards, guidelines and frameworks.
Speaking at the event, the head of the management team and director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi stated the need to reshape the agency’s future with collective leadership and individual accountability. He implored heads of departments and units to always work with their team rather than in silos for the best idea to emerge.
He mentioned that he has done a lot in democratising leadership by giving free rein to individuals to perform their tasks using their ideas and innovations.
Abdullahi said it was the only wat to train and duplicate leadership such that everyone takes responsibility for their actions and decisions. He added that part of their role as management staff of the agency is to enable subordinates to gain perspective and content as well as to think and behave rightly. “NITDA is winning today, no doubt, as we are among the top agencies in the country. But that is not enough. We need to shape our tomorrow. If we think we are winning today and we are comfortable, tomorrow we would be forgotten because what helped us to win today will not help us win tomorrow.”
The need to develop collective leadership skills and strategically position the agency to consolidate on the present wins for a better tomorrow and continuous dedication to the implementation of Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024), developed two years ago, was extensively discussed at the retreat.
The two-day management retreat themed “Connecting the dots for an Accelerated Digital Future” had resource personnel that addressed the management staff on “re-imagining NITDA’s role in Achieving a Sustainable Digital Economy in Nigeria”.
The president of ISPON, Chineneye Mba-Uzokwu applauded NITDA’s giant strides in so many respects and admitted that the interactions he had with the management have further earned the agency his loyalty and respect. He said ti was the first time he was coming in contact with a public institution that operates with a private organisation’s mindset.
The second presentation titled “An Understanding of the Regulatory Function of NITDA as a Developmental Agency in a Digital Economy” by Kolawole Osinowo tasked the management with a creative-thinking exercise where groups were given tools to build and create their perception of NITDA as a development organisation.
The annual retreat has become a tradition in NITDA, stemming from the management’s decision to upscale the performance of the agency through a review of the past activities and evaluation of current programmes and initiatives while strategising for future implementation.
Another presenter, Dr. Nwachuckwu of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and one of the resource persons, took the health talk where he mentioned the importance of balancing the work-life approach for a healthy lifestyle, stating the need for regular checkups. Also, he disclosed the need for exercise because a healthy lifestyle consists of exercise, eating healthy meals and resting well.
In the end, the management resolved to continue to build trust with existing stakeholders while expanding the frontiers of stakeholder engagement within the eco-system.
The agency will continue to innovate, put people first and be professional in conduct as stated in its core value.
