Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has announced plans for collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to implement joint programs focusing on infrastructure, digital literacy, and more. This collaboration aims to build a database providing insights into SME activities and guide interventions effectively.
During a courtesy visit to NITDA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, Charles Odii, the Director General of SMEDAN, highlighted the significant role of SMEs in Nigeria’s economy, constituting 90 percent of the country’s workforce and contributing 50 percent to the GDP.
Inuwa emphasized the alignment of this collaboration with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), particularly in fostering digital literacy and talent cultivation. He stressed the importance of digital literacy in enhancing productivity among SMEs, citing examples of how digital platforms can facilitate business transactions without physical movement.
Furthermore, Inuwa discussed leveraging existing IT hubs across Nigeria to provide digital infrastructure and services to unserved and underserved areas. He emphasized the need to establish benchmarks for IT hubs to ensure effective service delivery.
In addressing cybersecurity challenges, Inuwa proposed the development of affordable and indigenous cybersecurity solutions tailored to SMEs to promote digital trust. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of nurturing an innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem to drive economic growth.
In response, Odii outlined SMEDAN’s ongoing digital literacy programs and expressed interest in aligning them with global standards and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) under NITDA’s guidance. He also emphasized the need to sensitize SMEs, especially startups, about the benefits of the Nigerian Startup Act and to collaborate on building a robust SME database.
Overall, the collaboration between NITDA and SMEDAN aims to empower SMEs through digital literacy, infrastructure development, and policy support, ultimately driving economic growth and fostering innovation in Nigeria’s business landscape.
