The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated the agency’s commitment to train and re-train officers of the Nigeria Police Force through collaboration to have a digitally literate workforce.
The director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi disclosed this during the opening ceremony of a five-day capacity-building programme for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Gombe State Command, Gombe State.
Kashifu said the Nigeria Police Force is one of the most crucial security arms of government in need of the agency’s collaboration to achieve a collective mandate for the growth and development of the country.
The NITDA boss noted that emerging technologies are changing the mode of operations around the world, making it highly digitalised and competitive and paving the way for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He cited the changes as inevitable and have transformed several government sectors including the security formation to adapt the use of information technology (IT) and network infrastructure in its operations and correspondences, making work faster and saving costs for the government.
Explaining the role of NITDA in ensuring that Nigeria becomes a digital country, Abdullahi stated that the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024) which has seven pillars was crafted per the current aspirations of the Federal Government of Nigeria and each pillar has a defining goal to be achieved by the year 2024.
According to him, the pillars are developmental regulation, digital literacy and skills, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, promotion of indigenous content digital transformation, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
Speaking on the importance of timely collaboration to equip the personnel with digital skills, Inuwa said: “The training and re-training of the Nigeria Police Force personnel is a priority of NITDA and we will be delighted and elated to partner with the force as it advances to having a digitally literate workforce that can use the computer for promotion and examination.”
Represented by NITDA’s director, zonal office directorate, Mr. Babajide Ajayi, Abdullahi applauded the Nigeria Police Force for its relentless efforts in protecting lives and properties, rendering advisory security tips and tackling criminal activities across the country to make life better for citizens.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, Ishola Babaita, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kabir Abdu stated that the programme is a good initiative by NITDA which will help in promotional examinations of officers, thus changing the force’s operations.
Babaita urged participants to be focused by putting into practice everything they will learn from the training that will change the operations of the force.
He commended NITDA for its diverse interventions, programmes and projects across the country, stating that they are yielding positive results. He said the tempo should be maintained to deepen information technology across the country.
