The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has affirmed the federal government’s commitment to collaborate with Sierra Leone on technological advancements.

Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA’s director-general, spoke when Salima Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovations, paid him a working visit in Abuja on Friday.

Mr Inuwa, represented by Aristotle Onumo, the agency’s director of corporate planning and strategy department, said it was a move to actualise the strategic partnerships and collaboration pillar of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2023 to 2027.

He said, “This collaborative effort aims at ensuring the relevance of policies, frameworks and guidelines across governmental agencies.”

On NITDA’s approach to regulating information technology (IT) matters, the DG stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement and understanding stakeholders’ needs, problems, and fears.

He underscored the significance of developing laws and policies that addressed the concerns effectively and recommended an annual submission of IT plans by government agencies.

Ms Bah, on her part, underscored the importance of collaboration in propelling Africa forward in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain.

She said Africa needed to leverage the technologies for mutual benefit rather than being mere consumers.

Ms Bah also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from NITDA’s expertise in policy implementation, digital development and enforcement of standards and guidelines.

(NAN)