Exactly three days after he was named as Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami assumed duty at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, pledging to work with the agency’s staff as a team to improve its fortunes.
Dr. Pantami was among 13 others named on Monday, September 26, 2016 as new heads of federal government agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari through a statement issued from the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation.
Assuming duty on Thursday, September 29, 2016, Dr. Pantami breezed into a warm reception held in his honour by NITDA’s management and staff, led by the Acting Director-General, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who held sway since January 22, 2016 when the former D-G, Mr. Peter Jack was removed through a suspension which later culminated into a sack.
A statement issued by NITDA’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, noted that in the brief reception, Dr. Pantami expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the agency for having been “received in such a wonderful manner by the outgoing acting D-G, Vincent Olatunji, PhD and other members of staff.”
The new D-G said he came “to get a copy of the hand over note and to say hello to the people of his new environment,” the statement further explained.
According to the statement, Dr. Pantami promised to consolidate on the achievements the agency has recorded in past years, saying “what is important to him is to see how Nigeria can explore the potentials of ICT for development.”
He said, “What is important to us is Nigeria and I am here to work together with you as a team to achieve the vision of the Agency.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the outgoing Ag. D-G, Dr. Olatunji, assured Dr. Pantami of the cooperation of all staff adding that “NITDA is one big family.”
Dr. Olatunji informed the new D-G that the Agency might be small in structure but very big in activities as he has come to improve upon its activities. He added that his coming could not have been at a better time than now when the nation needs to leverage on ICT as alternative to oil to come out of recession.