The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Friday urged young people to upscale their talent in emerging technologies for nation-building.
Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, made the call during the 2022 Blockchain Developers’ Summit at Baze University, Abuja.
Inuwa spoke on how Blockchain Technology can support Digital Transformation and facilitate the Development of Nigeria into a Digital Economy.
He said that NITDA was committed to creating, and stimulating the ecosystem for Blockchain technology and ensuring that Nigerian innovators thrived.
”There are a lot of opportunities in Blockchain and it is critical in every business.
”Talent is the human component of technology and innovations with Blockchain and emerging technologies are about the new solutions one is bringing onboard.
“So, you need to ask yourself to know which solutions or offerings the industry requires,” Inuwa said.
According to him, the time for Nigerian youths to leverage the growing digital sector to tackle the myriad of challenges facing the nation is now, in spite of ethnic differences, because innovative ideas cannot be monopolised.
He said, ”Innovation is beyond invention, it needs to get to the point of commercialisation and until you can pitch your idea for someone to pay for your solutions, the innovation would, sadly, only be just an idea.”
According to him, the government is building an ecosystem that will enable young ones to hatch their ideas from conception to realisation.
The NITDA boss also emphasised the need for the participants to have venture capitalists who would invest in their innovative ideas.
The D-G also said that the organisation had developed the Blockchain adoption strategy to help stimulate the adoption of blockchain in the country.
He said that it would establish the Nigerian Blockchain Consortium which the summit would address.
Other steps to ensure the development of blockchain technology include strengthening developmental regulation and law and finding focus areas.
Promoting Literacy and Blockchain, Digital Innovation Incentivisation and the Startup Bill which has passed through the third reading at the National Assembly are also other steps.
Inuwa charged Youth Corps Members to take advantage of the opportunity and start a business before the end of their service year and possibly always ensure to be among the first movers in any digital-related endeavour.
The D-G also inaugurated the Baze University Artificial Intelligence/Blockchain Laboratory in the company of some international innovators.
The summit was attended by no fewer than 1,500 participants, comprising majorly the National Youth Service Corps Members.
