Mr. Alfie Hamid, Regional Manager, Corporate Affairs, Sub-Saharan Africa at Cisco Systems, says the proposed smart city initiative in Nigeria will grow the country’s economy.
Hamid stated this when he led the management of Cisco Systems Limited on a courtesy visit to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) headquarters in Abuja recently also believes that smart cities hold potentials for Nigerians in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
“The advent of smart cities in Nigeria will aid towards the growth of the country, African need to adapt to the rapid growth of technology which will aid towards availing the potentials in them to pave way for the creation of jobs”, according to the Cisco exec.
Hamid said the purpose of the visit is to seek NITDA’s collaboration and intervention to implement Cisco modules in the Tertiary Institution’s teaching curriculum to drive widespread adoption of ICT, as NITDA is the government body embedded with the responsibility towards the growth of IT in Nigeria.
While congratulating Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Director General of NITDA, on his appointment as the CEO of NITDA, he stated that Cisco Systems Limited have been in collaboration with the agency for the past 9 years with commitment in contributing to the spread of ICT across the country.
Cisco had been relevant in supporting institutions across the country on Internet of Things (IoT), and developing technology that will curb problems in the environment, according to the U.S. technology company.
Mr. Imoh Akpan, CSR Manager Nigeria, Cisco Systems, who was also part of the delegates, highlighted that Cisco had unveiled its attributes in “areas like curbing cyber crime, CCNA security, basics (high school level) and Cisco academy programs.”
He added that NITDA as an IT regulatory body is the key towards the attainment of such success by preparing the ground for IT organisations to implement goals which are channeled towards the growth and development of ICT which will impact the economy.
On his part, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Director General of NITDA, says that Cisco Systems is imperative towards the rapid growth and development of ICT in Nigeria.
Pantami expressed the Agency’s interest in Cisco Systems operations and requested for more practical solutions in areas of capacity building with the aim to achieve the mandate of NITDA and also foster swift development of ICT in the country.
The NITDA DG observed the need to pay more attention to the regulatory roles of the Agency especially in the areas of Local content, Cyber security, Job creation, Fighting corruption, and e- Government development frame work which will lead to effective and efficient service delivery to citizens of the country to pave way for rapid growth of the economy.
Cisco Systems, a U.S technology conglomerate, which has a Nigerian operation, Cisco Nigeria, develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products.
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