The director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, has said the use of technology in combating insecurity in Nigeria can never be overemphasised.
Abdullahi made this known when he hosted the rector of the Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST) Makurdi, Brig. Gen. Yahaya Abdulhamid, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
“It is important to know how to use technology – not just as an enabler – but as a strategic design for your strategy in general which will inspire you to do more.
“NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024) is built on seven pillars with their respective goals and objectives, which are; developmental regulations, digital literacy and skills, digital transformation, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, emerging technologies and promotion of indigenous content,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that the agency is focused on improving the application of technology and innovation by creating an enabling environment and an innovation ecosystem that allows a smooth digitized process. The agency, he said, would readily collaborate with NACEST to deploy technologies to combat and proffer solutions to the country’s rising security issues.
He averred that innovation does not happen in isolation but with proper alignment and positioning in a relevant ecosystem which makes collaboration between parties necessary, adding that there is cross-pollination between ICT and NACEST.
“The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a subsidiary of the agency, is fostering the development of emerging technologies in preparing Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in which NACEST can partner to develop technologies like drones, robotics etc as a veritable tool in combating national insecurity,” he explained.
Earlier, Abdulhamid, in his remarks, noted that the school remained one of the polytechnics that run a diploma programme in technical and vocational education and training.
He said the college is regulated by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); a national body mandated with the responsibility to ensure the quality of all diploma-certificated programmes in Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the school employs Information Communication Technology (ICT) in its computer engineering laboratory, computer science laboratory, e-Library, ICT centre, management information system (MIS), editing and advertising laboratory, resource centre, television and radio studios, among others.
“We cannot have the best in what we are doing until we link our activities, operations and processes to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which will provide a path for us to achieve our goals and objectives.
“Nigerian Army College of Environmental Sciences and Technology is diverting from the theoretical process and focusing more on the practical aspects to enable us solve our problems,” he stated.
Abdulhamid commended NITDA for the various IT interventions deployed across the country towards the growth and development of IT which plays a critical role for the advancement of the country and also towards National security.
