The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi, has urged organisations and businesses to embrace digital strategies to conduct their businesses in order to limit the damage caused by COVID -19.
Mr. Abdullahi stated that the current pandemic and the resultant social distancing measures have made digital technology an indispensable part of people’s lives.
He said this during a lecture on the role of digital technology in limiting the damage of Covid-19 with the theme “Dealing with Coronavirus: Digital First Perspective” organised by Nile University of Nigeria.
The university in a statement said the webinar was another in a series of virtual seminars held in its quest to ensure that its non-classroom educational activities (similar to its regular lectures) are not disrupted by COVID-19.
The NITDA DG noted that platform such as Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook, and other similar online platforms had become the only means through which individuals and organisations can stay connected to the outside world and remain operational respectively.
Mr. Abdullahi stressed the need for the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to adopt a “digital first” strategy in their recovery plans following the easing of lockdown measures.
In recognition of the importance of digital technology in minimising the disruption caused by COVID-19 to the activities of individuals and enterprises, he notes that NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy had created the NITDA Academy (a virtual learning environment), which was launched by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami.
He said the agency also launched the Nigeria COVID-19 Innovation Challenge and the Startup Clinic