The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Computer Information System Company (CISCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote digital transformation and close the digital skills gap in the country.
This is part of an effort to reach a goal of 95 percent digital literacy by 2030 and make Nigeria’s economy more stable by working well together with the right people.
The agreement was signed at the CISCO Networking Academy for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Partner Conference in Paris. It was approved by the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, and the Vice President of CISCO Middle East and Africa, Reem Asaad, in front of other industry leaders from around the world.
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The digital skills gap is closed by the agency
The deal was signed at the CISCO Networking Academy for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Partner Conference in Paris. Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of NITDA, and Reem Asaad, the Vice President of CISCO Middle East and Africa, accepted it in front of other industry leaders from all over the world.
The MOU that the two organizations signed is meant to help the country plan for digital transformation and help train and build digital skills. It will also help the agency’s work to close the country’s digital skills gap.
The CISCO Networking Academy is an IT skills-to-jobs project that helps public and private companies work together to train people in digital skills through high-quality curriculum and programmes for building the workforce for everyone.
The signed MOU is part of CISCO’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) plan, which will make sure that the CISCO Networking Academy programme is pushed and grown to help the country and its people.
The strategic partnership between the two organizations would guarantee the long-term viability of other national digital agenda components and generate exceptional value for the nation, its economies, and its people.
Dr Amina Sambo, who is the acting director of the agency’s Digital Literacy and Capacity Development Department, spoke for Inuwa. She said, “By working with industry leaders like CISCO, we can give Nigerians the knowledge and tools they need to participate in the national and global digital economies.”
MOU guarantees Cisco Entrepreneur Programmes
The MOU would ensure that CISCO deploys initiatives that will allow entrepreneurs in the country to gain new skills, innovate, and form connections with customers, in addition to the various infrastructural and innovative initiatives deployed by NITDA in the country.
The CISCO Earn, Design, Go to Market, Earn (EDGE) Incubation and Innovation Centre will be used to encourage innovation and support digitization efforts. It will also give entrepreneurs in the country a place to show off their ideas.
It will also give resources and tools to innovators and entrepreneurs in the country to help them come up with solutions that are safer, smarter, and more connected.
Ms. Reem said she was excited to work with NITDA to accelerate digitization in Nigeria and that CISCO has a responsibility to help consumers and the global community tackle life-changing problems.
Cisco Networking Academy drives change. This will provide different populations with educational and professional opportunities. She continued, “Networking and cyber security will put students at the forefront of innovation, giving them in-demand skills to develop ideas that will power the future.”
The programme’s centerpiece was NITDA’s receipt of the CISCO Golden Bridge Award for Director General Kashifu Inuwa’s outstanding work.