By Ojugbele Omotunde
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco International has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide technical support towards irrigation over 500,000 hectares farmlands in the country using digital technology solutions to irrigate their lands.
The MoU was signed at the headquarters of NITDA in Abuja on Monday by the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, and the Chief Executive Officer/Country Director of CISCO, Clayton Naidoo.
The NITDA director-general Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi stated that the MoU is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to enhance food security in Nigeria, including smart agriculture, education, health, and social services.
He added that Cisco is partnering with a firm in Maiduguri, Borno state, to develop a learning centre for Nigerians on Artificial Intelligence and IoT technology solutions, stating that the MoU aims to accelerate adoption of digital services, enhance agriculture productivity, improve healthcare services, and security, aligning with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda vision.
On his part, the CISCO’s country director, Clayton Naidoo, stated that Nigeria will benefit from the MoU, as it will enhance agricultural production, create job opportunities, and provide financial empowerment.
He said the company has collaborated with African and American governments to establish innovation hubs, with Nigeria aiming to create technology experience centres for security services and business units.
