Cisco could boost Nigeria’s BPO sector, says NITDA chief
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Nigeria’s push for digital transformation gains momentum with a strategic partnership with global tech leader Cisco.
Alhaji Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the head of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), announced the alliance, emphasizing its potential to help the country surpass India’s $150 billion annual outsourcing revenues.
Cisco’s Digital Acceleration Programme, EDGE, anchors this partnership, which aligns with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of creating a million digital jobs.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May lays out the collaboration’s objectives, from digitizing sectors such as agriculture and health to enhancing national identity systems and government services.
“What we have started is the process of identifying what we really need in Nigeria and how Cisco can help build them up,” Abdullahi said.
To achieve a projected 95% digital literacy by 2030, the NITDA chief spotlighted ongoing efforts like the Cisco Academy and ties with major tech players like Microsoft and Google.
Abdullahi also expressed confidence in overcoming challenges and securing Nigeria’s position as a dominant outsourcing hub globally.
