… As NACEST Seeks Collaboration
With Artificial Intelligence, Automated Vehicles and Drones and other security combative innovations gaining thrust in global technology deployment, Nigeria will continue to steer its fight against insecurity in the country towards the use of these innovative technologies.
The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi made this assertion when he played host to the Rector of the Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST) Makurdi, at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
While noting the importance of knowing how to use technology not just as an enabler but as a strategic design, the DG explained how NITDA has infused this into its policy works: “NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024) is built on seven pillars with their respective goals and objectives, which are; Developmental Regulations, Digital Literacy and Skills, Digital Transformation, Digital Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, and Promotion of Indigenous Content.”
Abdullahi noted that the Agency’s focus is central on improving how things are done using technology and innovation by creating an enabling environment and an innovation ecosystem that will allow a smooth digitized process, adding that the Agency is ready to collaborate with NACEST to deploy technologies to combat and proffer solutions to the country’s rising issue of insecurity.
He averred that innovation does not happen in isolation but rather, with proper alignment and positioning in a relevant ecosystem which necessitates the proposed collaboration between the two parties, adding that there is cross pollination between ICT and NACEST.
“The National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a subsidiary of the Agency is fostering the development of emerging technologies in preparing Nigeria for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in which NACEST can partner in research, development of technologies like drones, robotics, Artificial Intelligence etc as a veritable tool in combating National insecurity,” he elucidated.
The Rector, Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST) Makurdi, Brigadier General Yahaya Abdulhamid, in his remark, noted that the school is one of the Polytechnics that run Diploma Programme in Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
He said the College is regulated by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), a National body mandated with the responsibility to ensure the quality of all Diploma certificated programmes in Nigeria.
He further disclosed that the school utilises innovative Information Communications Technology (ICT) tools in the Computer Engineering laboratory, Computer Science Laboratory, E-Library, ICT centre, Management Information System (MIS), editing and Advertising Laboratory, Resource centre, Television and Radio Studios among others.
“We cannot have the best in what we are doing until we link our activities, operations and processes to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which will provide us a path way towards achieving our goals and objectives, which everything we do technology drives in achieving it,” he explained.
Abdulhamid went further to state that the Nigerian Army College of Environmental Sciences and Technology is diverting from the theoretical process and focusing more on the practical aspects to enable it provide solutions to the nation’s challenges.
He commended NITDA for the various IT interventions deployed across the country towards the growth and development of IT, which plays a critical role for the advancement of the country and also towards National security.
