NITDA Advocates Private Sector for Africa's Cloud Growth

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), represented by Director General Kashifu Abdullahi, advocates for a private sector-led model to drive cloud expansion in Africa. During a panel session at Gitex Africa in Marrakech, Abdullahi highlighted the necessity for African countries to rethink traditional infrastructure frameworks, which have historically relied on government funding.

He argued that sustainable digital growth requires collaborative structures involving public institutions and industry players. Abdullahi emphasized the importance of creating enabling policies and regulatory frameworks that encourage private investment and innovation.

He warned that Africa risks repeating historical patterns of previous industrial revolutions by failing to build its own digital infrastructure. The discussion also touched on the significance of data sovereignty and local cloud development to ensure Africa retains economic value as its digital population grows.

Gitex Africa serves as a platform for policymakers, technology firms, investors, and startups to strategize on accelerating the continent's digital economy.