Editor’s note: Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Chief Information Technology Officer, National Information Technology Development Agency in Nigeria, was recognized this year with the ISACA Inspirational Leadership Award “for leadership in bridging the digital divide by providing computers and other IT infrastructure to rural areas and schools and for providing virtual libraries.” He recently visited with ISACA Now for a Q&A interview, reflecting on the award, his work in Nigeria and his relationship with ISACA. The following is an edited transcript of the interview. Submit a nomination for the 2023 ISACA Awards here.
ISACA Now: What have been your main priorities as director-general of the Nigerian Information Technology Agency?
As the director general of Nigeria’s apex Information Technology Agency saddled with the responsibility to develop and regulate all IT practices in the country, my major priority is to facilitate Nigeria’s development into a sustainable digital economy.
We understand that Nigeria is poised with several challenges from youth unemployment, low computer literacy level, lack of proper digitization, etc. Therefore, IT being a means to an end, while leveraging the vast opportunities presented by the digital economy, our priority is to significantly drive transformational impact for sustained and diversified growth of the economy. So, we carefully crafted the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021 – 2024) with the objective of implementing the programs and initiatives that will facilitate the digital transformation of Nigeria in line with Nigeria’s Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
So far, we have been able to provide employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youths through our various initiatives and intervention programs. In my capacity as the director-general of NITDA, we have changed the dynamics of the sector, especially with the designing and implementation of the IT clearance initiative across federal parastatals which helped the Nigerian government save over $US80 million since 2019. Furthermore, we have trained more than 40,000 Nigerians across all walks of life and have established more than 160 digital economy centers across the country in just two years, to mention a few.
I am particularly glad about the issuance and implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation. The implementation of this instrument tested our capacity to the hilt. Its implementation is unique and innovative by adopting a professional model of creating a turnkey sector. Within a short period of its implementation, we have been able to license 103 data protection compliance officers, created 7,680 jobs and generated 4 billion naira revenue for the sector.
ISACA Now: How would you define indigenous technology for those who are not familiar, and why is it important to you? What steps have you taken to advance indigenous technology?
We view indigenous technology as any home-grown technological idea or solution owned and developed by Nigerians to address societal challenges both within Nigeria and beyond. Indigenous technology is very important due to its critical role in contributing to our nation’s socio-economic transformation, prosperity and global competitiveness.
We have conceptualized and designed various programs and initiatives to strengthen the ecosystem, spur innovation and support the advancement of indigenous technology.
For instance, we have the Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria Programme where we engaged the services of MassChallenge, a US-based global network for innovators who are working to solve massive challenges to identify high-impact and innovative technological ideas and solutions and provide them with the required resources to scale globally. We have the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Programme (MIT-REAP) Abuja, which is a global initiative by MIT to engage communities around the world to supercharge Innovation-Driven Enterprise (IDE) ecosystems and transform economies, and we intend to replicate this initiative across other regions in Nigeria. We have partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on the Idea Hatch (iHatch) Incubation Programme, which is aimed at creating more Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs) solving national challenges through innovative technological solutions, job creation and strengthening the innovation ecosystem. We also have our indigenous content program, which is aimed at ensuring promotion and patronage of indigenous technology, especially by government institutions, to power our digital transformation with indigenous technology. These are some of the steps we have taken to advance indigenous technology.
ISACA Now: What have been some of the highlights of your involvement with the ISACA Abuja Chapter?
I will never forget Monday, 18 August 2014, when it rained cats and dogs and we had a serious network problem in the company I worked for then. I spent most of the day resolving customer issues. Late in the afternoon, I got a chance to check my email after services were fully restored. The first email I saw was from a close friend, Mr. Opeyemi Onifade, inviting me to join ISACA. The email came at the right time because I have been looking for opportunities to join an international professional organization like ISACA. Without hesitation, I joined immediately and since then I have been enjoying the tremendous benefits from the association and never regretted my decision to join the association for a second.
As a member of ISACA, I have been active in all the chapters engagements and events. I have participated in ISACA’s annual conferences on different occasions and in different capacities, including being a keynote speaker, panelist and participant.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under my leadership had at different points provided corporate sponsorship for the ISACA Abuja Chapter’s events, including the annual conference. In addition, we have also sponsored a reasonable number of participants to the chapter’s events.
Additionally, NITDA engaged some ISACA professionals to train staff on the COBIT framework and the famous CISA and CISM certifications. I, through different avenues, have engaged and advised the leadership of the chapter on how to establish programs that will aid the growth and development of the chapter.
ISACA Now: What does it mean to you to be recognized as an ISACA Global Achievement Award winner?
I am deeply pleased and honored to receive this prestigious award. This award shows that our hard work over the past few years is being noticed on the global scene. For that, I am glad and grateful. Also, as a fresh ISACA member many years ago, I had looked forward to winning this award one day. Now, here it is!