Nigerian Government Set To Adopt Global IT Governance Policy.....Seeks Support From US Silicon Valley

A Nigeria Government delegation is currently in Silicon Valley San Jose California, the IT headquarters of the World to explore the possibility of Adopting a program of IT Governance developed by the Information Systems and Audit Compliance Association (ISACA) named COBIT 5, as the framework for IT Governance in the country.

Led by Dr Tosin Ajayi, the Chairman of National Information Technology Development AgencyNITDA, the IT Development and Regulatory body in Nigeria, the team included Mr Peter Jack Director General of the Agency,Director of e- Governance of the Ministry of Communication Technology, Mr Tope Fashedemi, Messrs Segun Ilori,Wilson Agu,Harami Balami,Saidu Njidda and Emmanuel Ighomena, Board members of the Agency

Opening the 3 day Workshop in The Hilton Hotel San Jose, Dr Ajayi stated that apart from the possible adoption of the IT Governance programme, the team is also to explore collaboration of world IT leaders for the establishment of Incubation centres in Nigeria for the grooming and promotion of talented youths in software and IT auditors as a way of creating jobs for the teeming youths in line with President Jonathan's transformation Agenda,

According to Ajayi,""The Board of NITDA is taking an initiative to launch Our youths into IT and harness their creativity in the Information Age as we cannot afford to let Nigeria fall behind in this revolution that has taken place"

The NITDA, he said would soon announce the adoption of a robust IT governance and regulatory framework which all stakeholders in the sector must follow to enable the country maintain acceptable world level standard and procedures for the overall benefit of the country.

He said that one of the goals of the board is to immediately create about 5000 jobs through incubation centres in Lagos, Calabar and Kano emphasizing that the Agency was moving into era of programmes development that will bring inflow of Direct foreign investment into the IT sector rather than Government funded projects.

Also speaking the Director General Mr Peter Jack said the Agency was now ready to assume its position as a regulatory body of the IT sector and promote local content ,adding that the era of lack of enforcement of Standards and policy was over.He said the agency would carry along all stakeholders in adopting the best IT governance framework the board may eventually adopt.

The team during the visit interacted with young Infopreneurs at Incubation Centres and IT parks in at the Silicon Valley.

Report by
Tunde Adebanji
Public information Management Institute,Abuja