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Kashifu, DG, NITDA
By STELLAMARIS ASHINZE
The Federal Government, on Thursday, said its partnership with Google is set to transform Nigeria into a global tech hub.
Mr. Inuwa Kashifu, the Director-General, National Information Technology Developmental Agency (NITDA), said this in a television interview monitored in Lagos.
Kashifu said that the partnership was focused on infrastructure development, scaling of citizens, AI innovation, cloud adoption and investment framework.
He stated that the partnership was aimed at creating an ecosystem that would power Nigeria’s digital transformation.
"The partnership, which was launched during a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Google CEO in Paris, will lead to the development of a roadmap for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“It will focus on five key areas: infrastructure development, scaling of citizens, AI innovation, cloud adoption, and investment framework,” he said.
Kashifu also highlighted the importance of data centres in driving digital economy and the need to domicile sensitive data, both for government and the private sector.
He said that no data centre relied on grid electricity globally.
“Data centres go off-grid, they go green because they also need carbon credit. We are looking at that as part of the framework,” he said.
The D-G said that there was a need to upskill Nigeria’s workforce to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the partnership.
According to him, there is need to embed digital skills in the country’s education sector from primary school to tertiary institutions.
On the partnership with Awari Technologies, Kashifu said that it was not part of the conversation with Google
He said that it was under a “Special Purpose Vehicle” focused on developing a large language model in Nigeria, which would help to promote language and culture.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu had met with Google Chief Executive Officer, Sundar Pichai, in Paris to forge a strategic partnerships aimed at enhancing the country’s digital transformation journey. (NAN)
