The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, at the ongoing Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, has urged Amazon Web Services (AWS) to come to Nigeria and harness the country’s pool of tech talents in order to co-create products and services.
Inuwa who frontlined the team of Nigerian Startups currently participating at GITEX Supernova Pitch Competition to AWS office in Dubai, charged the company to utilize the Nigeria’s youthful population, and invest in the country’s Digital Economy.
The DG stated that there is a need for tech big companies like AWS to leverage Nigeria’s existing policies and regulations, and support the Startups to create local products and services.
“Nigeria is a big market, and we have one of the youngest populations in the world, and technology is about young people. You have all the opportunities to come and invest in Nigeria, we have the talent, and talent is one of our competitive edge, when it comes to technology and innovation, Nigeria can be the global super power,” Inuwa said.
He pointed out that some major tech corporations saw government regulations as a threat, despite the fact that most rules are designed to foster local competitors and startups’ ability to engage in the rapidly expanding digital economy rather than to prevent companies from dominating.
“Our Startups cannot compete with AWS as a Service Provider platform, but you can create a platform for them to build their products and services,” the DG said.
He added, “Technology is a product business. The hitch of today can quickly become memories of tomorrow. Your company is as good as your next product, and your next product is as good as the people who made it.
“Innovation is Startup business, big organisations focus more on protecting their niche, while Startups are to disrupt; come up with new ideas, make things easier and democratise services. With this kind of platform, it is easier for someone to build his product and take it to market.
“I think it is an opportunity for you also to see how you can leverage on a platform like ours to build and expand your products and services. If you carry out an assessment you will discover that it is easier for you to engage our Startups than to build your own human infrastructure,” the DG stressed.
Inuwa also emphasized that no country will like to depend on another when it comes to providing digital solutions and services, every nation wants to be digitally independent.
“We, therefore, encourage big tech companies to come and invest locally, so that digital products and services can be built within the country.
“We know, there are controls on the use of data with respect to jurisdiction, litigation and other things; for instance you can only litigate what happens within your jurisdiction,” he added.
Inuwa is hopeful that Nigerian startups would profit from AWS’s many programs, which are available to them at every point of their journey while looking forward to future opportunities for partnership and collaboration.
Inuwa’s collaboration with AWS occurred only hours after North Star Dubai revealed that nine Nigerian startups had advanced to the Supernova Challenge Pitch Competition semifinals, where winners in several categories may win up to $200,000 in cash.
The Nigerian Startups who are competing with their counterparts from Asia, Africa and Europe are: Identity Pass, 9JaCodeKids Academy, Floews, Medtech, Paddycover, Pricepally, LiveBic, Technyon Technologies, and Wellness Health Technologies.
