The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Kashifu Inuwa CCIE with the Executive Secretary of National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) Mohammed Abu Ibrahim signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has partnered with the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADF) to infuse emerging technologies into the agricultural sector. This collaboration was formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable development.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, highlighted the importance of integrating digital technology into agriculture during the MoU signing event. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to enhancing food security, and digital technology is at the heart of this transformation. This MoU represents our shared vision to utilize emerging technologies to significantly boost productivity in agriculture,” said Inuwa.
Inuwa explained that the collaboration is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to modernize agriculture by leveraging innovation and technology. He added, “Our Minister, who is personally invested in agriculture, started this conversation, and after thorough legal reviews, we are ready to implement the agreement.”
NITDA’s focus on agriculture is not new. Inuwa referenced the agency’s existing initiatives, such as the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), which has already demonstrated how technology can improve farming practices. “We have a demo farm here in Abuja, and we are working with universities and startups to develop technologies that can be tested and applied on farms,” Inuwa explained. “This year, we provided grants to startups focused on using emerging technologies to drive agricultural productivity.”
Muhammed Abu, Executive Secretary of NADF, emphasized the critical role technology plays in addressing the challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including climate change, funding gaps, and insecurity. “We’ve witnessed the positive impact of technologies like AI, IoT, and wireless access in agriculture. Without incorporating these innovations, we may struggle to achieve our goals,” Abu stated.
He further noted that data-driven, evidence-based approaches are essential for optimizing the sector. “Empirical evidence will allow us to allocate resources more effectively, ensuring we do more with less. This collaboration is key to achieving that,” he said, adding that NADF is optimistic about the long-term benefits of this partnership.
Abu also stressed that the partnership would be just the beginning of future collaborations between the two agencies, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector through digital innovation.
This agreement marks a major step towards the Federal Government’s goal of ensuring food security by incorporating modern technology into the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. By working together, NITDA and NADF are laying the foundation for a new era of agricultural productivity, driven by innovation and empowered by data.
