The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), led by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, wishes to formally announce the establishment of the Agency’s new subsidiary, the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), which resulted from the successful merger of two of the Agency’s subsidiaries.
The public will be pleased to learn that NITDA has merged two (2) of its former Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) and the Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC), to create a more robust and functional subsidiary in order to implement the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and streamline its operation to better serve stakeholders.
The ONC was created as a strategic vehicle to promote the Nigerian Content Program’s implementation and oversee compliance with the Regulatory Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT, which were released in December 2013 and amended in August 2019.
While the OIIE was positioned to work with stakeholders to analyze and evaluate their current ecosystems, build bridges between stakeholders to arrive at shared agendas, and collaboratively design and implement strategic interventions (policies and programs) based on best practices to support the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
Both subsidiaries were charged with encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, as well as developing the requisite human resources and expertise. To achieve this goal, ONC and OIIE engaged with key ecosystem stakeholders. However, many of these operations cross-pollinated were redundant and lacked the cross-subsidiary teamwork that was required. It also resulted in duplication of effort, re-invention of the wheel, and inefficient resource allocation.
As a result, in an effort to streamline its operations, increase efficiency, and make better use of resources, NITDA’s management decided to create a single body capable of directing the activities of both subsidiaries as one.
This is in line with the Agency’s culture of continual improvement and new strategic objective of “proactively facilitating Nigeria’s transformation towards a sustainable digital economy.” NITDA will continue to assess its prior plan in order to refocus the Agency in accordance with government policies, the current status of the IT industry, future trends, existing populace aspirations, and the overall government intention.
ONDI was established in order to coordinate and promote policy implementation, regulatory guidelines enforcement, and interventions aimed at the development and growth of the Nigerian technology ecosystem in order to have a larger impact on job creation and economic progress. You’ll agree that this is necessary if Nigeria is to achieve its goal of being Africa’s number one destination for digital technology innovation.
Furthermore, ONDI would be in a position to implement programs targeted at boosting the Nigerian digital innovation ecosystem and promoting the creation of indigenous content in the Nigerian digital sector, as well as creating more Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs). In addition, the office will guarantee that Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem is promoted, grown, and protected in order to maintain a long-term digital economy.
The general public and our highly valued stakeholders should take note of the aforementioned information and send any requests for information about the defunct subsidiaries to the ONDI.
