Telecom
NITDA Partners Microsoft on Quantum Leap to Implement Cloud First Strategy
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the stewardship of the Director General, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has announced its commitment to strengthen collaboration with the Microsoft Nigeria in ensuring the implementation of the Cloud First Strategy in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
L-R: Mrs Ola Williams, New Country Manager of Microsoft Nigeria and Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) during Microsoft’s courtesy visit to NITDA in Abuja.
Abdullahi disclosed this when he received team of Microsoft Nigeria led by the new Country Manager, Mrs Ola Williams at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters, Abuja.
The purpose of the visit was to introduce the newly appointed Microsoft boss and to further strengthen the already existing collaboration between the two organizations.
The NITDA DG stated that the agency had recalibrated its activities to align with the new Government aspirations and have therefore crafted new strategies.
“We are committed to aligning with these new government goals by transforming our agency and to achieve this, we need an organization like yours to do that”, he said.
Abdullahi stated that the Developmental regulation is one of the strategic pillars of the Agency’s Strategic Road Map and Action Plan (SRAP) 2021-2024 which will encourage innovations and help service providers as well as end consumers.
He said, “Microsoft has been of great assistance in this regard by supporting development of the Cloud Computing Policy.
Abdullahi further stated that the Agency is pushing for Cloud First Strategy in the government and needs further collaboration from Microsoft with the aim of learning the best practices and domesticate them in the country.
“We have collaborated on the Nigerian Data Protection Regulations but we need to collaborate more in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy”, Abdullahi averred.
The NITDA boss said the Agency has been intensifying efforts on Digital Literacy which is another strategic pillar of its action plan in order to help youths upscale their digital literacy skills and retain their jobs in the trending pandemic era.
He further disclosed that the Agency has trained over 2,400 youths and are currently targeting on training 7,200 people from 11 states basically on Microsoft productivity tools, digital content creation and digital marketing.
Abdullahi mentioned that Digital Transformation, Cyber Security, Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship are strategic pillars in which the Agency has collaborated with Microsoft in using technology to enhance traditional processes, help government get insights into the dark web and encourage local startups respectively.
“Small and Medium Scale Enterprises contribute up to 90% of the workforce and it is very important to use technology create fancy employment for our youths. We have so many initiatives with respect to this and I think you can be a key player”, the DG added.
He added that the Agency would need the collaboration of Microsoft in the areas of its Public Key Infrastructure solution to boost cloud first strategies in government institutions and initiate a collaborative process on the acquisition of Microsoft Digital Certificates.
The NITDA DG earlier congratulated the newly appointed Microsoft Boss for being the first female and homegrown boss of Microsoft, adding that NITDA and Microsoft have come a long way and must continue to trail that same direction in order to achieve their goals and objectives.
“With the emergence of a new country manager, we should look at areas we can work together for the betterment of our country Nigeria”, Abdullahi noted.
In her remark, Mrs Ola Williams thanked NITDA for its support and partnership over the years, while expressing her utmost appreciation to the Director General for the privilege given to them to contribute their quota to the development of Cloud Policy in Nigeria.
“Our visit here is as a result of your demonstration of contributions and impact to our organization and to solicit for more support and partnership to create a digital Nigeria”, she concluded.
Cloud First Strategies which are operational strategies in which infrastructures are being moved to cloud computing platforms like the Amazon web services, Google cloud or Microsoft Azure rather than using physical clusters have been identified to have outstanding benefits in terms of auto-scaling, easy configurability in getting new services online and reliability amongst other benefits.
Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has successfully concluded its 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM), reinforcing its commitment to Nigeria’s digital identity.
(L–R): Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, Member, Board of Trustees, NiRA; Mr. Ahmad Mukoshy, Newly Elected Executive Board Member, NiRA; Mrs. Seyi Onasanya, COO NiRA; Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, President, NiRA; and Mr. Peter Oluka, Executive Board Member, NiRA.
Held as a hybrid event at the NiRA Secretariat and virtually, the meeting brought together over 325 members, stakeholders, and media representatives to review progress and set future goals.
During the AGM, NiRA President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, emphasized the Association’s remarkable growth in 2024, including 94,723 new registrations and 61,227 renewals, bringing the total number of .ng domains under management to 212,890. The accreditation of 23 new registrars further strengthened NiRA’s reach and impact.
A major highlight was the implementation of DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), enhancing domain integrity and security. NiRA also launched a Registrar Incentive Programme in Q3 2024 to encourage adoption and reward top-performing registrars.
Strategic partnerships were a key focus, with collaborations across government and private sectors. NiRA continued its long-standing relationship with NITDA, engaged with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and worked with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support businesses. Other partnerships included efforts with the Nigeria Computer Society and Innovation Support Network (ISN Hubs) to drive internet development in Nigeria.
Among NiRA’s recent initiatives were Tech Convergence 1.0, a flagship event exploring technology and creativity, and the 7th edition of the prestigious .ng Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations for their contributions to Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The Association also reaffirmed its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility through the NiRA Kids Foundation (NKF) and .ng Academy, focusing on digital empowerment and capacity building.
The election of new Executive Board of Directors members marked a major step forward, with Mrs. Mary Olaseni, Mrs. Abibat Olatunji, and Mr. Ahmad Mukoshy joining the board, while Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata and Mr. Destiny Amana assumed new roles. The outgoing board members were recognized for their service and contributions.
The seamless execution of the AGM underscored NiRA’s professionalism and dedication. Moving forward, NiRA remains committed to fostering a secure and resilient digital ecosystem through the .ng domain, positioning Nigeria as a global digital leader.
Telecommunications and digital services provider, Globacom, has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Huawei Nigerian Enterprises, to provide digital access to 7,000 remote communities in Nigeria with the commissioning of the pilot project in Isuanin Kura in Ibwa 2, Gwagwalada, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Wednesday.
The project, which is championed by the Ministry, will deliver 2G/3G/4G services, free public Wi-Fi access, digital healthcare and remote learning capabilities to the over 12,000 residents of the community.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, was full of commendation to Globacom and Huawei for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the connectivity crisis affecting more than 20 million Nigerians who currently lack basic telecommunication access in the country.
Said he: “If you bring out your phone in many communities, there is no network at all. This is costing the country significantly because people cannot access financial services, medical care, or education”, adding that this also poses governance challenges as disconnected areas are difficult to administer.
“Where you live should not determine your access to opportunity. We are using innovation to ensure every Nigerian, regardless of location, can thrive in the digital age”, the Minister added.
Globacom’s Group Chief Technical Director, Mr. Sanjib Roy, who spoke on the project said the company worked with the Ministry and Huawei to bring up the site by providing the Microwave backhaul link and access to Globacom’s full core network resources and also manage the operation of the site to ensure uninterrupted voice and data services for the community.
“The Smart Education facility allows for young students within the community to receive education remotely, with the teachers being in Abuja or any other part of the world, while Healthcare delivery has been revolutionised through connected medical equipment that enables remote consultations between patients in Ibwa and doctors and specialists in urban-locations”, Mr Roy explained. The site and all the equipment are powered by solar thereby ensuring clean environment and uninterrupted power supply.
During the inauguration, the system’s effectiveness was demonstrated with the leader of Isuanin Kura, Ibwa 2 Community, Chief Abubakar Bamaiyi, having a live consultation with a medical doctor in Abuja, while the Minister and other guests watched as the students in the local school were being taught via online video by a teacher in Lagos, using equipment provided by Huawei.
Mr Kazeem Kaka, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, who also spoke at event, said, “For Globacom, this is a continuation of our long-standing mission to democratize access to communication. Since 2003, we have remained at the forefront of efforts to lower the barriers to connectivity—making telephony, internet, and data services more accessible and affordable for all Nigerians.
“Today’s launch reinforces that commitment. We are particularly excited about the impact this initiative will have on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment of Ibwa people”.
In his remarks, Mr Terrens Wu, Managing Director, Huawei Nigerian Enterprises, said his company was proud to be part of the initiative to provide connectivity, and promote learning and healthcare in rural communities through digital technology. His company later gave out 120 affordable smartphones to the community to help them have access to telephony.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to register at least 95% of Nigerians into the National Identity Database before the end of 2025, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on digital governance and inclusive development.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote outlined the agency’s strategy, which includes expanded registration centers, improved infrastructure, and intensified public sensitization campaigns.
“As part of our efforts, we are launching the Ward Enrollment Exercise to ensure that at least 95% of Nigerians are captured by December,” she stated.
NIMC reported that over 120 million Nigerians have already been enrolled, with the target set to register an additional 100 million before year-end. Coker-Odusote emphasized that the exercise would provide the government with accurate population data, enabling better planning and resource allocation.
Addressing concerns about data security and public trust, the NIMC boss assured Nigerians that robust measures have been put in place to safeguard personal information.
She highlighted initiatives such as the NIN Authentication system, which allows individuals to control access to their data through user consent management.
Additionally, NIMC is collaborating with security agencies to track and shut down fraudulent NIN websites while working alongside the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to ensure that enrollment officers receive proper certification in data handling.
“To foster trust, we are ensuring that all personnel handling data are certified experts through NDPC training programs,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Coker-Odusote revealed that NIMC is actively working to integrate all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to eliminate fragmented operations.
She also disclosed plans to launch a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) initiative, which will enhance trust in government transactions and digital interactions.
“In the near future, MDAs will be able to implement digital signing across platforms, seamlessly exchanging documents within and between various establishments, thereby advancing e-government and the digital economy,” she added.
The mass enrollment drive, coupled with the strengthening of cybersecurity frameworks, positions Nigeria for an inclusive and efficient national identity system that will serve as a foundation for digital transformation.
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