The Federal Government, through the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Ali Isa Ibrahim Pantami, has yesterday 17th August 2020 commissioned the new digital centre of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NiTDA at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. Pantami also unveiled the the new logo, vision, mission and core values for the Agency. The Minister has been commissioning a series of completed projects and this one is the third phase of the Digital Economy Projects to be commissioned. The Digital Centre includes the Integrated Computer Emergency Response and Readiness Centre, Digital Media Studio and Digital Conference Room.

During his address, Minister Pantami, who was the special guest of honour, lauded the Management of the Agency for continuing with the legacies and projects he had initiated while he was the Director General of the Agency. He said that the projects were aimed at making the Agency a smart organisation, noting that all the projects are in synchrony with the three cardinal objectives of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari: to grow the economy, improve the security of lives and properties of Nigerians and also curb corruption in governance.

The Minister said it becomes quite relevant to upgrade the Computer Emergency Response and Readiness team going by the prevailing security challenges facing Nigeria, to take the challenge head-on.

“Today there are many challenges with regards to security based on what is happening online, with these new facilities, we would be the watchdog of the Federal Government to monitor potential cyber-crime attacks in our country, come up with policies and strategies to see how we can prevent our country from attacks,” Dr Pantami said.

He assured that improving the digital economy of Nigeria will help the Ministry and its agencies and parastatals have good success in all their vital objectives. The minister explained that the Digital Media Studio is set to substantially have positive effects on the workers and citizens through its promotion of digital literacy.

Regarding the new NITDA logo, Dr Pantami said that the change became necessary because of the evolving nature of Information Technology, noting that since the Information Technology policy has changed to reflect the new trend in the sector, there is need to change the logo to reflect the digital policy of the government.

Present during the commissioning are the Director General, NiTDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; Chairman, NITDA Governing Board, Dr Abubakar Saidu; Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission, Professor Umar Garba Dambatta; Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Professor Muhammed Bello Abubakar; Managing Director, Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited, Dr Abimbola Alele; Head Universal Service Provision Fund, Mallam Ayuba Shuaibu and other top government functionaries.

Source: TechEconomy.ng; Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy