NITDA Trains
NITDA Trains 24,372 in Academy, Launches Digital
Innovation Challenge
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
said its next strategic action is to organize an ‘Innovation
Challenge’.
This is with a view to providing indigenous solution that can
help develop digital learning platform for rural communities in
Nigeria, according to Mr. Inuwa Kashifu.
Kashifu, who is the Director General (DG) of the agency, made
this known on Thursday, at the ‘NITDA Stakeholders’ Meetup and
Hangout’.
He also said about 24,372 active students are presently learning
under NITDA Academy.
The hangout, held on Zoom platform, was themed: “Leveraging
Indigenous Technologies to Enhance Educational Development”.
Inuwa, said though the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted conventional
educational system, but it has revolutionized digital and online
education globally.
He said: “However, kids in rural and underserved communities are
being left behind, as they are not equipped to adapt or transition
to the new methods of learning.”
At the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy,
together with NITDA, Mr. Inuwa, explained that they responded by
launching virtual learning platforms for Nigerian citizens.
“This is to ensure they spend their time meaningfully out of
school,” he said.
The Director General of NITDA, further added: “Our platforms are
aimed at reskilling and upskilling our citizens with digital skill
for post covid-19 world, and future of work.”
He said that 149 million new jobs will be created in the next 5
years, according to a study conducted by Microsoft.
Mr. Inuwa, while speaking further, noted that, “These new jobs
are going to be in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Cloud
Computing, Robotic and Software development.”
He said the hangout was organized to open a discussion on how we
can leverage emerging technologies to build an affordable
indigenous solution to address the current global learning crisis
using local solution.
“And secondly, to encourage and incentivize our innovative
citizens to develop a marketable products and services using
emerging technologies,” the NITDA boss added.