National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cisco International to develop skills and provide national training programs aimed at building new talent, reskilling, and upskilling existing talent to meet future demands.
The Director General of NITDA, Dr Kashifu Abdullahi Inuwa signed the MoU alongside the CISCO’s Country Director, Clayton Naidoo in Abuja said the collaboration aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to increase digital literacy by 2030.
He said the partnership would accelerate the diversification of the Nigerian economy by enhancing productivity in critical sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and social services through technological innovation.
Inuwa who highlighted some of the key areas of the collaboration include, upgrading the National Artificial Intelligence Centre to a world-class AI lab, implementing cybersecurity measures to secure AI systems, developing a national broadband plan to achieve 95% coverage in Nigeria and Introducing smart agriculture technology to address socio-economic challenges.
According to him, the smart agricultural technology plan aims to accelerate the process of delivering solutions for the irrigation of over 500,000 farmlands, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to boost food security in the country.
The NITDA’s DG said that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes delivering digital services through technological solutions, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and drones, to solve Nigeria’s critical problems.
Cisco’s Country Director, Clayton Naidoo, explained that the MoU would be of great benefit to Nigerians by improving agricultural production, creating job opportunities, and empowering citizens financially.
Naidoo added that Cisco will create inclusive modules to empower local communities in Nigeria and provide them with job opportunities in the digital services sector and related fields.
RN
