Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called on tech industry experts and start-ups to collaborate with the government in crafting regulations that will enhance human and infrastructural development, ultimately unlocking Africa’s vast potential.
Inuwa delivered this message at the second edition of the Moonshot Tech Conference 2024, held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, where leading figures from Africa’s tech landscape convened to network and share insights. He participated in a panel discussion titled “Building Digital Economies for the World: How African Countries are Shaping Their Tech Economies to Compete Globally.”
He emphasized the need for a balance between innovation and regulation, noting that while innovation transforms ideas into impactful solutions, regulation serves as a necessary framework for stability. “At NITDA, we’ve developed an intelligent regulatory framework that helps us understand the landscape before implementing regulations,” he explained. “This approach allows us to appreciate the value being brought to the market while creating room for innovation.”
Inuwa highlighted the critical role of collaboration between governments and the private sector to unlock local capital, asserting that Africa’s greatest asset in the tech sector is its human capital. He referenced a World Bank report projecting a global talent deficit of 85 million by 2030, which, if unaddressed, could result in $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual value. “With our young population, Africa can become a global talent hub,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of raising awareness about the technology ecosystem’s potential to tackle not only local but also global challenges. In Nigeria, for instance, the Nigeria Startup Act was developed in collaboration with the tech community to promote venture capital and support innovation hubs.
In conclusion, Inuwa called for collective action to bolster Africa’s digital economy, stating, “We need to build digital infrastructure that facilitates content sharing within Africa and enhances cross-border data flow.”
Joining Inuwa on the panel were notable figures including Dr. Augustina Odame, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Technology; David Manley, Chief Advisor Technology in Sierra Leone; and Marieme Kane, Director of Innovation at the Ministry of Digital Transformation in Mauritania.
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