Economic Diversification: Tech Is The New ‘Oil’, Says NITDA Boss

The Director-General of National Information Technology
Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has said that
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the new ‘oil’,
because of its increasing contributions to the nation’s gross
Domestic Products (GDP).

The DG who said this while delivering a remark at a virtual
conference also said his agency is actively accelerating digital
inclusion in Nigeria by taking advantage of the speed of existing
infrastructure across the country.

“Technology is the way forward in communications and other
activities like meetings, prescriptions by doctors, conferences and
other related activities which has aid the implementations of
policies and strategies for the growth and development of our
country.

“It is the next oil, simply because of its rise in the nation’s
Gross Domestic Product which has paved way for the creations of
jobs directly or indirectly and also an avenue for flow of revenue
to the country. Everything is evolving around technology and with
technology work and activities are done at ease and reduces the
cost of implementation at the end of the day,” he said.

According to him, the Agency since the implementation of its IT
roadmap has prepared Nigeria and created ways for the adoption of
the 4th industrial revolution which will serve as the yard stick
for the digitalisation of the country’s mode of operation and the
economy at large.

He added that the impact of technology has gradually yield
positive result, through skills acquisition, job creation,
promotion of government service, capacity building carried out by
the Agency at the different geopolitical zones in the country which
has deepened the penetration of IT in Nigeria.

The Director-General of National Information Technology
Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has said that
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the new ‘oil’,
because of its increasing contributions to the nation’s gross
Domestic Products (GDP).

The DG who said this while delivering a remark at a virtual
conference also said his agency is actively accelerating digital
inclusion in Nigeria by taking advantage of the speed of existing
infrastructure across the country.

“Technology is the way forward in communications and other
activities like meetings, prescriptions by doctors, conferences and
other related activities which has aid the implementations of
policies and strategies for the growth and development of our
country.

“It is the next oil, simply because of its rise in the nation’s
Gross Domestic Product which has paved way for the creations of
jobs directly or indirectly and also an avenue for flow of revenue
to the country. Everything is evolving around technology and with
technology work and activities are done at ease and reduces the
cost of implementation at the end of the day,” he said.

According to him, the Agency since the implementation of its IT
roadmap has prepared Nigeria and created ways for the adoption of
the 4th industrial revolution which will serve as the yard stick
for the digitalisation of the country’s mode of operation and the
economy at large.

He added that the impact of technology has gradually yield
positive result, through skills acquisition, job creation,
promotion of government service, capacity building carried out by
the Agency at the different geopolitical zones in the country which
has deepened the penetration of IT in Nigeria.