" ITREALMS: Media critical to bridging MassChallenge in Nigeria says Abdullahi – ITREALMS

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Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Media critical to bridging MassChallenge in Nigeria says Abdullahi – ITREALMS

Nigerian media, especially the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) media subsector has been described as critical stakeholders towards bridging MassChallenge in the country, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking Tuesday at the Media Stakeholder Engagement on the Bridge to MassChallenge Initiative, the Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said that media is part of NITDA-MassChallenge Partnership.

“It’s truly a pleasure and privilege to have you because you are a critical stakeholder in this Bridge to MassChallenge Nigeria Initiative,” he said.

At NITDA, he said, they see COVID-19 as an opportunity to do the big things never thought possible.

Stressing that they conceptualised this initiative to help the Nigerian startups have a breakthrough, not a breakdown, during and after the COVID-19 crisis, which is designed to identify and accelerate top startups based in Nigeria and grow their businesses to serve the Nigerian and global market.

“You may recall that as part of our 20th anniversary celebration, we presented NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2021-2024 to you. The plan was crafted in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a digital Nigeria. The NDEPS which was developed with the vision of transforming Nigeria into a leading digital economy, providing quality life and digital economies for all has been properly aligned with the SRAP seven strategic pillars. These pillars are developmental regulation, digital literacy and skills, digital transformation, digital innovation & entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, emerging technologies and promotion of indigenous content.

“You may also recall that as part of NITDA’s achievements for the past 20 years, we have, through our various initiatives, touched the lives of more than 2.5 million Nigerians. The Agency has also contributed to Nigeria’s exit from the recent recession. Most importantly, our innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives have attracted more foreign investments into the country’s digital economy. We have also created new economic industries such as software, business process outsourcing and data protection, contributing to our national economy significantly.

“A vibrant startup ecosystem is highly critical to the future of our country and it’s vital to finding solutions to our various challenges. Innovation is a prominent way of creating prosperity for all and lifting countries out of poverty. Considering this, NITDA and MassChallenge have partnered to catalyse and support a national startup community in Nigeria. MassChallenge is well known as a global network of zero-equity startup accelerators,” he said.

ITREALMS reports that earlier, the chief executive of MassChallenge, Ms Siobhan Dullea, also gave a welcome remarks, while Senior Manager, Global Partnerships, MassChallenge, Sunanda Narayan, who gave an overview of B2MC in Nigeria.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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