*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, relates how five Nigerian researchers presented e-governance solutions, making a significant impact at the recent 17th International Conference on the Theory and Practice of e-Government, held in Pretoria, South Africa

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

In line with the country鈥檚 efforts leveraging technology for economic diversification and enhanced governance, five Nigerian researchers made a significant impact at the 17th International Conference on the Theory and Practice of E-Government (ICEGOV2024), held in Pretoria, South Africa, recently.

绿帽献妻 reports the the United Nations University and UNESCO organised the event that attracted over 336 participants from 49 countries of the world, underscoring the global importance of digital governance.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), representing Dr. 鈥橞osun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, at the event emphasised the researchers鈥� participation aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope Agenda.

The agency disclosed the Nigerian researchers鈥� papers on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) were accepted and sponsored to participate in the 17th ICEGOV 2024, South Africa, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting research and technological innovation in the Nigeria Digital Economy.

鈥淭hese researchers had the opportunity to present their work, engage with global peers, and explore collaborative efforts to transform their findings into practical innovations,鈥� NITDA said.

Importance of technological solutions in Nigeria鈥檚 economic diversification, by NITDA

The Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency disclosed Inuwa said that the current administration鈥檚 programme is aimed to leverage technology tools and solutions for economic diversification and enhanced governance in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NITDA, who also harped on the significance of Nigeria鈥檚 representation at the conference, noted that out of 157 submitted papers, only 85 were accepted, and they reflected the competitive nature of the event in the Southern African country.

The insights gained from the research, he stated, could catalyse technological innovations crucial for Nigeria鈥檚 economic diversification and governance improvement, furthering President Tinubu鈥檚 vision, stated he.

He equally confirmed NITDA鈥檚 commitment to supporting research initiatives, ensuring that Nigeria remains at the forefront of advancements in digital governance.

Highlights of researchers鈥� e-governance solutions showcased at ICEGOV2024

According to NITDA, the showcased research spans various aspects of digital transformation, collectively aiming to enhance e-governance and stimulate economic growth through technological innovation.

The agency as well offered brief outlines of the pivotal works, explaining how Hassana Asuku鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淏ridging the Broadband Gap,鈥� addresses the digital divide in rural areas by proposing a comprehensive strategy to improve Broadband access in the Nigerian digital ecosystem.

Asuku鈥檚 multidimensional approach seeks to enhance economic inclusion and civic engagement, aligning with the government鈥檚 push for digital growth, noted the agency.

Adeyinka Patrick Adewumi鈥檚 research on 鈥淒igital Competency in the Public Sector鈥� highlights the challenges posed by low digital skills among civil servants.

The agency said Adewumi proposed a model for targeted training and infrastructure upgrades to accelerate digital transformation.

In Dr. Agbali Mohammed鈥檚 work on Scalable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the researcher鈥檚 solution tackles institutional barriers to deploying effective DPI in Nigeria, aiming to enhance Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and improve regulatory frameworks.

In regard to Dr. Tanimu Mukhtar Garba鈥檚 research on Tax Compliance for SMEs, the expert introduced the Taxpoynt platform, which is designed to simplify tax processes for small businesses in the economy.

NITDA noted 鈥渢his advancement is crucial considering the significant role of SMEs in Nigeria鈥檚 economy.鈥�

Dr. Salihu Dasuki Ibrahim鈥檚 work on Citizens鈥� Freedoms in e-Governance also explored how DPI could enhance citizen liberties, addressing obstacles such as inadequate ICT infrastructure and data privacy concerns.

The agency said: 鈥淭he contributions of these researchers not only position Nigeria as a leading voice in the global conversation on digital governance but also reflect the nation鈥檚 commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable economic growth and improved governance.鈥�

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