By Chimezie Godfrey
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled new subsidiary Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI),
ln a statement, the Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Hadiza Umar, disclosed that the agency merged two (2) of its former Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) and the Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC), to create the ONDI.
According to her, the merger of the two subsidiaries to create ONDI is part of efforts to implement the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and to streamline its operation to serve stakeholders more efficiently.
She said,”The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the distinguished leadership of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, wishes to officially notify the public of the creation of the Agency’s new subsidiary: Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), a creation that emerged after the successful merger of two of its subsidiaries.
“The public may be pleased to know that NITDA, in its effort to implement the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and to streamline its operation to serve stakeholders more efficiently, merged two (2) of its former Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) and the Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC), to create a more robust and functional subsidiary.
“The ONC was established as a strategic vehicle to drive the implementation of the Nigerian Content Program and monitor compliance with the Regulatory Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT, issued in December 2013 and updated in August 2019.
“While the OIIE was positioned to work with stakeholders to analyse and evaluate their current ecosystems, build bridges between stakeholders to arrive at shared agendas and collectively design and implement strategic interventions (policies and programs) which are based on best practices to bolster the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
“Both subsidiaries had a mandate to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the Nigerian digital ecosystem, as well as to create the necessary people resources and capacity. ONC and OIIE collaborated with important stakeholders in the ecosystem to achieve this goal.
“However, the problem was that many of these activities cross-pollinated, became redundant, and lacked the necessary cross-subsidiary collaboration.”
She added that it led to duplication of work, re-invention of the wheel and poor use of resources.
“As a result, the Management of NITDA in its effort to streamline its activities, promote efficiency and effective use of resources decided on the establishment of a single body capable of directing the activities of both subsidiaries as one.
“This is in furtherance of the Agency’s culture to be on a continuous path of improvement and new strategic vision which is “to proactively facilitate the development of Nigeria into a sustainable digital economy,” she said.
Umar assured that NITDA will continue to evaluate its previous plan, in order to refocus the Agency along the lines of the government policies, current state of the IT industry, future trends, current aspirations of the citizenry and the general intendment of government.
“It is line with the above that ONDI is created to coordinate and support activities on policy implementation, enforcement of regulatory guidelines and interventions targeted at the development and growth of the Nigerian technology ecosystem for a greater impact on job creation and economic growth.
“You will agree that this is required to attain the desired vision of making Nigeria Africa’s number one destination for digital technology innovation.
“More so, ONDI will be positioned to execute programmes aimed at strengthening the Nigerian digital innovation ecosystem to create more Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs), as well as promote the development of indigenous content in the Nigerian digital sector. In addition, the office will ensure the promotion, growth, and protection of Nigerian digital innovation ecosystem for a sustainable digital economy.
“The public and our highly esteemed stakeholders may kindly wish to take note of the above information and redirect their requests as it concerns the defunct subsidiaries to the ONDI,” she said.
ONDI is located at the National Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) Building Complex, 790 Cadastral Zone, Wuye District, Abuja. For further information and enquiries, contact the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI).
