MRS. HADIZA UMAR is the lively face that lights up the atmosphere at NITDA, not just because of her role as Head of the Corporate Affairs Unit; Mrs. Umar reflects the great camaraderie that holds all members of staff of NITDA together as one family. She gave some insights to the agency’s operations in the pursuit of delivering on its mandates as well as some of her specific roles:
Since its inception, what will you describe as the key successes recorded by NITDA?
NITDA has recorded tremendous successes in the last 15 years since it was created. First is the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEF), which is the main source of NITDA revenue; and it is from this fund that we execute all our projects, programmes and pay staff salaries and entitlements. Due to its broad mandates, NITDA is saddled with a lot of responsibilities; and I can proudly say we have recorded quite tremendous successes.
As I speak to you now, we have succeeded in developing and publishing 29 Standards in various aspects of Information Technology; we also developed some frameworks and guidelines for the deployment of information technology in Nigeria. In areas of human capital development there is training and Capacity Building for NITDA staff; also there is a Scholarship Scheme for Nigerian IT graduates. And so far we have trained 256 MSc., 24 PhD and 10,000+ graduates. Under our Training of Youths with Disabilities programme, over 100 were trained between 2014 and 2015 alone. We have also carried out capacity building for Nigeria youths in business process outsourcing; capacity building workshop for the media on ICT reportage; workshop for ICT directors of Nigerian federal universities on enhancing ICT infrastructure in Nigeria public universities as well as ICT Youth Empowerment Scheme (ICTYES) in which over 224 youths have been trained so far. In fact, for our Innovations and Entrepreneurship Training programme alone, about 4,500 National Youth Corps members have been trained. These are just few among many of the successes recorded; and, as you can see, we have been really very busy building ICT capacity across many social strata, all in our goal to fulfilling our mandates.
In the area of infrastructural development, NITDA has developed the National e-Agriculture Web-Portal in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to assist farmers with their farming needs and challenges. We also achieved the establishment of virtual library in tertiary institutions; there is also the establishment of Rural Information Technology Centres (RITCs). So far, we have succeeded in establishing 450 RITCs, and we are not resting on our oars as this is on-going until we achieve our goal which is to cover all the 774 local government areas of the federation. Another key success area is the establishment of NITDA Software Testing and Quality Assurance Infrastructure and Capacity Building Laboratory to assist in testing our locally developed software to conform to international standards. NITDA has also set out the National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and established the CISCO Network Academy as well as the establishment of Knowledge Access Venues (KAV). All these are the Agency’s effort towards the creation of an enabling environment for the development of IT in the country.
NITDA has also hosted and collaborated in hosting a number of events in information technology. This is to assist in raising the IT knowledge-base in the country and meeting up with the global best practices in the industry.
As the spokesperson of NITDA, what are the strategic steps you are taking to position the Agency as a key factor in Nigeria’s ICT success story?
There are many ways in doing this. One of such ways is speaking with you in this interview, explaining the roles of the agency, its achievements and projections; this way, the public gets to know more about the Agency and its strategic position in the effort to ensure Nigeria achieves greatness through ICT. Already, Nigeria’s ICT success story speaks for itself. Looking back, for instance, not too long ago, let’s say 10 years ago, how many people have access to phones with internet connectivity as they do today? How about use of and access to Automated Teller Machines (ATM), online banking, registering and writing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations online? Of course, this also includes registering for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) School Certificate examinations online; how many people really have access to computers or have knowledge of computer usage compared to the large numbers we have today?
With ICT, jobs are being created, people learn web design, online businesses are booming as more and more people work online to make money while saving time and getting things done a lot faster with ease; all these have been made possible due to ICT. We at the Agency have also trained people in various ICT applications, we have deployed IT infrastructures in schools and communities to make ICT readily available to citizens.
Now with the dwindling price of oil, the nation is turning to ICT, to explore areas that would be used to generate income for the country like producing our own content, to one day be a producer instead of consumer, and we are beginning to achieve that. That is why ICT is now contributing up to 10 per cent to our GDP.
How will you describe the perception the key ICT stakeholders have of NITDA?
I will say the perception is positive and excellent, because we work closely with our stakeholders; we collaborate and also partake in all their activities. We maintain a cordial working relationship and partnership with all stakeholders in the country and beyond. I have never received any complain, so I will say it’s a good one.
One of the key mandates of NITDA is creating awareness regarding ICT usage and uptake in the country. Will you say NITDA is delivering on this mandate?
Very well; we have been doing a lot in creating awareness on ICT among citizens. We have organised and hosted ICT events locally and internationally towards this awareness creation; we have done quite a lot of trainings for different groups of citizens as I mentioned earlier as part of our achievements. With the deployment of the earlier mentioned various human capacity developments, infrastructural development and the stakeholders’ engagement and participation in several IT conferences, workshops and exhibitions, I will gladly say we are creating awareness for ICT as part of our key mandates.
In the discharge of your functions as Head of Corporate Affairs, what are the challenges you face, which if they were tackled will make you function better?
One of my biggest challenges is time, and you know time is never enough. Why do I say this? Because there is so much to be done; there is so much that requires attention, yet time is never enough. But with good time management I will overcome. Aside that I have the full support and encouragement of my boss, I have cordial working relationships with my colleagues; so I cannot say I have any challenge that will hinder the performance of my functions.
What will you describe as your greatest achievement as Head, Corporate affairs, one that makes you very happy?
One of my greatest achievements is introducing and successfully producing the Agency’s first journal – NITDA Digest, which we have now renamed iTech Beam. When I came on board, it was like starting Public Relations in the Agency for the first time after being in existence for eight years. I had to put all the public relations mechanism into action. We now have good understanding and relationship with our various publics.
What specific plans have you lined up for public affairs and awareness creation to make NITDA a household name?
NITDA is a household name already as the only federal government agency established to implement the National Information Technology Policy thereby transforming Nigeria from dependency on natural resources to knowledge based economy. What is left on our part is to deliver the mandate that the Agency was established upon.
How do you combine the tedious, very demanding work as Head, Corporate Affairs, with your role as a mother and a wife?
Well, it is not an easy one; but I try to balance them; it’s by the grace of Almighty Allah, and I have an understanding and supporting husband. But one thing is for sure, while at work I put in all the time, energy, attention and commitment necessary, and I try not to take home office work so that I can spend quality time with my family. Home is for the family; that’s how I try in managing and balancing the demands of office and the importance of taking care of the family.
Generally, how has it been doing this job: exciting? Challenging? Motivating? Frustrating? Please speak in greater detail, your overall impressions of the job you do.
I love what I do. I live Public Relations, I breathe PR, I sleep and wake up with PR, (smiles). Actually, PR is a way of life. Everybody does PR without knowing it. I think that’s just that, that’s what makes it exciting and motivating especially when you find the right place to work, with the right people. When you do what you love doing, you don’t get frustrated, though at times I face a few challenges for sure, which is to be expected when one strives to manage human beings in a social environment; but not one that cannot be overcome or one that can push you to frustration; no, not at all. I have the support, understanding and encouragement of my boss as well as understanding colleagues; that makes the job exciting.