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NITDA DG says New IT Policy Will Reduce Shocks from COVID19
Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has averred that the new IT policy of the Federal government will aid the country overcome the impact of COVID19.
He added that the initiatives will also reposition the ICT sector to play a critical role in the diversification of the nation’s economy.
Kashifu stated this when he played host to the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General, Jamilu Sarharm, and the management team of the Academy who were at the Agency to seek collaboration and support.
For him, Nigeria is lucky to have started putting out measures aimed at promoting Digital Economy.
Recalling the redesignation of the Ministry of Communications to Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the NITDA boss said the unveiling of Digital Economy Strategies and Planning and the Digital Nigeria project which focuses on digital capacity building and digital literacy would go a long way in reshaping our Economy in the post-pandemic era.
“These initiatives have helped because they are emerging globally and in Nigeria, what we have learned from the pandemic or the crisis just made them profound and we are all embracing digital technologies.”
He further stated that: “a lot of things are going to change. We are not going to go back to normal life. In terms of businesses, some will close down and new opportunities will come.
So we don’t want to be left behind. We want to be part of the people shaping the new normal we are currently facing.”
While admonishing that people should explore the opportunities the crisis has provided to accelerate the trend that will shape the digital economy, he reiterated the need for people to acquire requisite skills needed for the digital economy.
“When we talk about the digital economy, we are talking about the knowledge economy which human capital is a key enabler because knowledge is what influences the digital economy.”
Citing the example of how 25 people became the richest people in the world, made $255billion within two months of the global lockdown, the DG affirmed that that is the power of knowledge.
He said NITDA gives good attention to capacity building and collaborates with universities to produce the right skills needed for the digital world.
He added the MIT REAP project of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy identified five key stakeholders that the University is part of.
He said the idea is for the corporate to work with the University to produce the right skills needed for the digital economy.
Earlier, Major General Sarharm has informed that the management of the Academy has resolved to approach NITDA for assistance in terms of e-learning and capacity building.
Sarharm said that the management thought there is a need to pay a courtesy visit to the NITDA and seek collaboration in various areas notably in the area of ICT intervention for the Academy.
He said: “the NDA has over 2000 cadets and things are changing and affecting modes of learning especially during the lockdown, adding that the whole world is now driven by ICT, we want to engage in online training for our cadets.
“We can’t wait any longer than to come around here basically to seek collaboration and more importantly seek for assistance and expertise. In granting the prayers of the Academy, the DG assured that special consideration would be given to the requests.
“I have looked at your prayers even though you are not specific of what you really want from NITDA but you talked about e-learning, capacity building and ICT infrastructure, we do all these as interventions and we will see what we can do now and those we can plan for next year”.
News
PalmPay Launches CSR Initiatives to Empower Women, Foster Financial Literacy in Northern Nigeria
In a strategic move to expand financial inclusion in Nigeria, leading mobile banking platform, PalmPay has launched a series of CSR programs across Kano and Kaduna. The CSR initiative named “Passing the Baton” represents the brand’s commitment to passing on knowledge and providing the resources individuals and businesses need to achieve financial independence and drive economic empowerment.
This initiative is a bold move by PalmPay to bridge the opportunity gap in the North by providing financial literacy training and micro-business branding support to 5,000 women-owned businesses in Kano and Kaduna. This strategic initiative reaffirms PalmPay’s commitment to inclusive development and economic empowerment, particularly in underserved regions.
“At PalmPay, we believe that real financial inclusion must be far reaching and cover the grassroots,” said Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay. “Our new CSR program is focused on supporting gender equity by equipping women with the knowledge, tools, and visibility they need to thrive as entrepreneurs in their communities.”
Through this initiative, beneficiaries will receive free health insurance, hands-on training workshops, enhanced store branding to boost visibility, and branded merchandise to strengthen their business presence.
The initiative is part of PalmPay’s broader strategy to extend its innovative solutions, expand its footprint in Northern Nigeria, while building sustainable partnerships with local stakeholders for long-term impact.
In a show of support, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, Dr. Muhammadu Sanusi II, has endorsed the initiative, calling on other stakeholders to join forces with PalmPay in ensuring the North benefits fully from the growing digital economy. PalmPay has received commendation from community stakeholders, as the initiative aims to serve as a model for similar projects across other northern states.
As PalmPay continues to scale across Nigeria, the company remains committed to bridging the financial inclusion gap and empowering underserved groups, particularly women and youth, through its innovative solutions and impact initiatives.
Anambra State has once again demonstrated its leadership in digital transformation, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top three states in the 2025 e-Governance Report published by the Panorama CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI).
According to the report — a collaborative effort between Nigerian Panorama and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS) — Anambra ranks alongside Lagos and Enugu as the leading states in adopting and implementing e-governance practices that foster accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery.
In his remarks, Professor Anthony Kila, Director of CIAPS, emphasized the importance of e-governance in shaping how governments interact with citizens. “The centrality of e-governance allows us to assess the performance of state governments in the country. How the government treats the digital world says a lot about them,” he said.
The report evaluated states based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including website security, up-to-date content, public engagement, availability of online services, policy updates, and user accessibility. Anambra’s performance reflects the state’s deliberate investment in digital infrastructure and its commitment to leveraging technology as a tool for inclusive governance.
Reacting to the recognition, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, described the report as a welcome validation of the efforts being made under the leadership of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, to reposition Anambra as a liveable and prosperous smart mega-city.
“This is not just about being tech-savvy,” Agbata said. “It’s about using digital tools to create real impact — making the government more accessible, responsive, and transparent. Anambra is building a digital future that works for everyone.”
The CGPI Report recommended that all states intensify efforts to train public servants, maintain digital platforms effectively, and build user-friendly systems that keep citizens informed and empowered. For Anambra, this recognition serves both as a milestone and a motivation to scale new heights.
As the journey continues, Anambra remains focused on setting the pace for e-governance in Nigeria in line with the Governor’s mantra of Everything Technology & Technology Everywhere.
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