Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi – Wikipedia

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Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi

Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi (born 21 February 1980) is a Nigerian technology expert, skilled technocrat and transformational leader that has left an indelible mark on the Nigerian IT ecosystem and sub-sector. He is a professional strategist and dynamic IT professional with key competencies that cut across growth management, policy formulation, solutions architecture, resource mobilization and strategy implementation. He is the current Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).[1][2]

He has amassed nearly two decades of corporate experience in the global private/public IT space and is the first Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) in Nigeria’s public sector. He currently holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from ATBU Bauchi and is a recipient of multiple executive certifications from top-notch universities, including Harvard University, London Business School, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Oxford University, IMD Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His professional certifications include but are not limited to Innovation and entrepreneurship, transformational leadership, strategic transformation, service management, networking and solutions design.

Education[edit]

Inuwa holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi State, Nigeria. He is also a recipient of multiple executive certifications in leadership, innovation, telecommunications, service management, networking and solutions design from top-notch universities, including Harvard University, University of Cambridge and Oxford University. Inuwa is an MIT-Sloan strategist trained at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career and Public Service[edit]

DGOh nitda abuja.jpg

Inuwa has almost two decades of experience in Information Technology operations, business transformation and solution architecture, across both private and public sectors.[3][4] Prior to becoming Director-General of NITDA, Mr Inuwa worked at Galaxy Backbone Ltd as a senior network engineer before joining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a senior technology solutions architect. In 2017, he joined NITDA as a Technical Assistant to the then Director-General before being appointed DG in 2019 by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency[edit]

DG Office.jpg

Mr Inuwa is the current DG/CEO of NITDA – the apex Information Technology Regulatory Agency for the Nigerian ICT ecosystem. In this position, he has implemented several strategic initiatives and projects designed to foster digital inclusion, accelerate innovation, create jobs and improve access to critical IT infrastructure across the country.  In Q2 of 2021, it is worthy to note that the ICT sector under his watch contributed 17.92%  to the National GDP and led to Nigeria’s exit from recession. Mr Inuwa is also credited  with saving over 35 Billion Naira (84 million USD) of government funds since 2019 through the design and implementation of the IT clearance initiative across federal parastatals, amongst other achievements.

Key Achievements

  • The design, development and implementation of the “Systemic Reform and Development of NITDA” (SRAP- 2021 to 2024)
  • Design & Implementation of NITDA Strategic Roadmap & Action Plan (2021 -2024).
  • Transforming Nigeria into a Digital Economy through Developmental Regulation
  • Capacity building[5] and Human Resource Development[6]
  • Design & Implementation of IT Clearance for government MDAs
  • Development of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) Implementation Framework
  • Successful Launch of National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
  • Completion of ISO 27001:2013 Certification for NITDA
  • Promoting Nigerian Content in IT through Improved ICT Goods and Services [1]
  • Bridging the Digital Divide through IT Infrastructure Deployment
  • Certification of Data protection Companies[7]

T.A to the DG NITDA[edit]

Isa-Ali-Pantami-and-Kashifu-Inuwa-Abdullahi-cc.png

Between 2017 and 2019, Mr. Inuwa worked as the Technical Assistant to then Director-General- Isa Pantami. Inuwa was actively engaged in the design, planning, coordination and execution of NITDA’s strategic goals across various thematic areas including IT Regulation, Capacity Building, Local Content Development, Government Digital Services, Digital Job Creation, Digital Inclusion and Cyber Security. He was responsible for overseeing NITDA’s procurement process and achieved a 7% reduction in the cost of major projects every year. He also managed the execution of over 300 IT interventions across Nigeria and coordinated local content adoption initiatives to encourage the use of indigenous content and solutions

Technology Architect at the Central Bank of Nigeria[edit]

Inuwa created the technology architecture repository that highlighted a 360-degree view of the Central Bank of Nigeria IT infrastructure in real-time. Consequently, this allowed for easier decision making on IT infrastructure and asset investment. Working with relevant departments, he executed a software license rationalization that saved the bank over 5m USD in annual license fees & subscriptions. As a Senior Technology Architect in the Central Bank of Nigeria, he designed, planned and coordinated numerous initiatives that helped in achieving a cashless society in Nigeria.

Senior Solutions Architect at Galaxy Backbone Nigeria[edit]

Mr Inuwa spent 9 years at Galaxy backbone Limited and grew through the ranks. As a Senior Solutions Architect, he was responsible for the deployment, administration and management of key technology infrastructure for the company. His verifiable accomplishments at Galaxy Backbone remain relevant to date. He was responsible for:

  • The design of over 10 National IT systems that helped in promoting e-government deployment in Nigeria
  • Orchestrating solution architecture templates that reduced the mean-time to develop enterprise solution architectures from 15 to 10 days
  • The design of the National IP/MPLS backbone that successfully connected 500+ locations and integrated 150+ agencies in Nigeria.

Contributions to Information and Technology Development in Nigeria[edit]

Mr Inuwa is a dynamic IT professional and innovation strategist with key competencies that cut across Solutions Architecture, Resource Mobilization and Strategy Implementation. He has amassed nearly 2 decades of corporate experience in the global private/public IT space and is also the first Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) in Nigeria’s public sector. Since his appointment as the DG of NITDA, he has upskilled and reskilled[8] over 1.5 million Nigerians from different walks of life,[9] and is credited with the formulation of critical policy frameworks that guides the Nigerian government’s activities and interventions[10] in the IT ecosystem. In 2019, he oversaw the issuance[11] of endorsement certificates for over 1,000 Indigenous IT companies and service providers.  He also approved the issuance of licenses to 12 local OEMs and 100+ data protection companies. He is also a strong advocate safe cyber spaces and championed multiple programs, policies and solutions for cyber safety in Nigeria. He was part of the team that developed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Technology Architecture Repository (TAR). He initiated, designed and executed a software license rationalization programme that helped save the Federal Government $5 million on annual licensing & subscriptions for Nigeria’s apex bank.

Awards and recognition[edit]

Inuwa is the recipient of multiple awards and recognition for his achievements in governance, technology and leadership. He remains a role model to several young Nigerians.[12] See an overview of some of his most prestigious awards.

  • ISACA Global Inspirational Leadership Award – By ISACA International Professional Association
  • 100 Leading Telecom and ICT Personalities in Nigeria – By Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON)
  • Pillar of Digital Entrepreneurship Award By Eminent Emerging Entrepreneurs Foundation
  • 2020 Most Impactful Director-General – By National Information Reporters Association (NITRA)
  • 2020 Special Award for driving ICT development in Nigeria – By Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA).
  • 2019 Achievement Award for regulating Data Protection in Nigeria by Data & Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative
  • 2019 Icon of Societal Transformation Award by Northern Women Assembly (NOWA)
  • 2019 Award of Excellence by the Vice-Chancellor NILE University, Prof. Osman Nuri Aras

Twitter Suspension[edit]

During Nigeria’s Twitter suspension, Mr Inuwa led the technical team that had a robust engagement that spurred global digital diplomacy and set a new template for the operations[13] of big tech companies in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Membership & Affiliation[edit]

Mr Inuwa is a thoroughbred IT professional and solutions architect who is affiliated with notable associations and societies across the globe. He equally holds many professional certifications in telecommunications, service management, networking and solution design. See an overview of his memberships and affiliations below:

References[edit]

  1. ^ FG Appoints Mr Kashifu Abdullahi as Director-General NITDA, Vanguard Nigeria
  2. ^ “Buhari Appoints”. MSN. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  3. ^ “FG Appoints Kashifu Abdullahi Ass New NITDA Boss”. The World News. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  4. ^ “Kashifu Abdullahi Appointed As New NITDA Boss”. Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 20 August 2019.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ “NITDA partners firm to boost digital economy training”. Punch Newspapers. 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  6. ^ “Nigerian IT start-ups can generate $30 billion in 10 years – NITDA DG”. Nairametrics. 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  7. ^ “1,213 firms complied with data protection regulation, says NITDA”. The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  8. ^ Ekugo, Ngozi (2022-11-06). “30,000 Nigerians to be trained on a Blockchain through scholarship by NITDA”. Nairametrics. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  9. ^ Johnson, Joseph (2022-05-12). “NITDA Trains Military, Paramilitary, MDAs Staff On Digital Literacy, Cyber Security And Cloud Computing”. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  10. ^ “Kashifu’s strides and NITDA’s impacts – The Nation Newspaper”. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  11. ^ “NITDA Issues 11 Licenses to Data Protection Companies”. Vanguard News. 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  12. ^ Prnigeria (2022-05-13). “Youth Coalition Commends NITDA for Boosting Nigeria’s Digital Transformation”. PRNigeria News. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  13. ^ Odueso, Timi (2022-06-14). “NITDA’s Code of Practice to help Nigeria regulate social media”. TechCabal. Retrieved 2022-12-12.