Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to effective collaboration with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Communications, Technology, and Innovations, represented by Minister Salima Bah.
This strategic move is in line with the “Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration” pillar outlined in NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0 2024-2027).
Speaking on behalf of the DG, Dr Aristotle Onumo, the Director of the Corporate Planning and Strategy Department at NITDA, conveyed the agency’s dedication to fostering innovation while emphasizing the importance of co-creation, stakeholder engagements, and innovation in driving NITDA’s regulatory agenda.
Inuwa emphasized the necessity of collaboration among various stakeholders within and beyond the public sector, highlighting the establishment of the Digital Transformation Working Group within each ministry to ensure policy relevance across governmental agencies.
The DG stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement in regulating Information Technology matters, emphasizing the need to understand their needs, problems, and fears to develop effective laws and policies.
In addressing the monitoring of service delivery, Inuwa recommended an annual submission of IT plans by government agencies to ensure alignment with NITDA’s objectives. He also highlighted the agency’s use of IT clearance as a mechanism for enforcing standards swiftly.
Minister Salima Bah emphasized the importance of collaboration in propelling Africa forward in emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain, advocating for leveraging these technologies for mutual benefit rather than mere consumption.
Reflecting on the engagement, Bah expressed gratitude for learning from NITDA’s expertise in policy implementation, digital development, and enforcement of standards and guidelines, particularly in technology clearance and compliance.
