Agency Report –
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is collaborating with some partners to empower young entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, in the creative industry to drive digital transformation.
The agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company and Alami, a private limited liability company, with focus on empowering young entrepreneurs in the technology and creative industries with digital skills.
Hadiza Umar, director, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, said this in a statement on Friday, following a meeting between the chief executives of the organisations in Abuja.
According to Ms Umar, part of the agreement centred on strengthening collaborations on FinTech innovation, digital literacy, infrastructure development and promoting open-source technology that would boost the economy.
She said that the MoU was expected to boost the economy, and aligns with NITDA’s commitment to implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, targeted at equipping SMEs with skills in the digital era.
Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of NITDA, in the statement said that public-private collaboration was key to achieving Nigeria’s digital economy aspirations.
“Flutterwave’s innovative fintech solutions aligns with our vision for a thriving digital economy.
“Slow digital adoption among SMEs has been a major obstacle to economic growth, and through this collaboration, we aim to provide businesses with the resources and infrastructure needed to transition into the digital age.
“This partnership is a vital step towards achieving shared goals for digital transformation, showcasing our commitment to the betterment of Nigeria in line with the President’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda,” Inuwa said.
He said that by equipping Nigerian businesses with the tools to embrace digital solutions, NITDA aimed to enhance economic growth, create job opportunities, and ensure inclusive access to the benefits of a digital economy.
The NITDA D-G said that the agency was committed to building a resilient and sustainable digital future for all Nigerians.
Flutterwave’s Founder and Chief Executive, Mr Olugbenga Agboola, expressed confidence in the potential of the partnership to empower SMEs, adding that many small businesses struggled to fully embrace digital solutions.
Agboola said that by providing seamless and secured payment technologies, small businesses could be helped to scale up their confidence and foster an inclusive digital economy.
He said that the MoU would focus on strengthening public-private partnerships through digital payment infrastructure and technology financing, promoting activities around the 2025 Digital Nigeria Week, among other programmes.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the MoU will focus on NITDA’s key initiatives.
The initiatives include the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, SRAP) 2.0, innovation and entrepreneurship programmes, digital literacy, skills development, and cybersecurity.
The parties are expected to be work together to bridge the digital divide by promoting literacy, fostering fintech innovation, and creating an enabling environment for businesses to leverage secure and efficient financial solutions.
