The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has called on technology industry experts and startups to collaborate with the government in shaping regulations that will foster human and infrastructural development across Africa.
Inuwa made this appeal during the Moonshot Tech Conference 2024, held at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.
Speaking as a panelist on the topic, “Building Digital Economies for the World: How African Countries are Shaping their Tech Economies to Compete Across the Continent and Globally”, Inuwa emphasized the critical need for a balance between innovation and regulation.
He noted that while innovation drives creativity and the development of impactful solutions, regulations are necessary to maintain stability and ensure sustainable growth.
“At NITDA, we have developed an intelligent regulatory framework that allows us to understand the terrain before implementing regulations. This approach helps us comprehend what you are building, the value you are bringing to the market, and the need for flexibility to foster innovation,” Inuwa stated.
The NITDA DG further highlighted the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector to unlock local capital within the continent.
He pointed out that Africa’s greatest asset in the tech ecosystem is its human capital.
Citing a World Bank report, Inuwa noted that by 2030, there could be a global talent deficit of 85 million, leading to a potential loss of $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual value if not harnessed properly.
“In Africa, given our young population, we have a unique opportunity to position ourselves as a global talent factory to bridge this talent gap,” he added.
Inuwa also discussed Nigeria’s proactive steps in advancing its digital economy, mentioning the Nigeria Startup Act, which was co-created with the country’s tech ecosystem to encourage venture capital investments, register innovation hubs, and establish a council to promote local investments.
He stressed the importance of building a robust digital infrastructure that supports the sharing of content and facilitates data flow across African borders, calling for collective efforts to strengthen Africa’s digital economy.
The conference, which brings together Africa’s brightest tech minds for networking and collaboration, saw other key panelists sharing valuable insights. These included Dr. Augustina Odame, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Technology; David Manley, Chief Advisor Technology for Sierra Leone; and Marieme Kane, Director of Innovation at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Mauritania.
