A delegation from Zambia’s digital economy sector has arrived in Nigeria to study the National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI) implemented by Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Led by Mr. Austin Sichinga, a Director from the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority, the delegation expressed their admiration for Nigeria’s adaptable and effective model after comparing it with those of other African countries.
Sichinga stated, “We are quite eager to engage and learn as much as we can here; and if you see how diverse our team is and the portfolios we traveled with, it is an indication of how much we value the project as we intend to implement it for secured transactions and ensure we are moving on the right path.”
He further emphasised Zambia’s government’s desire to embark on a digital path and strengthen trade relationships with partners across borders. Sichinga explained, “One of the things that has to happen is ensuring we are ready with services and interaction with the various partners across the borders.”
Acknowledging the delayed implementation of Zambia’s PKI, Sichinga stressed the importance of establishing a continuous border to enhance data exchange and secure platforms across institutions, as directed by Zambia’s President. He expressed eagerness to collaborate, forge partnerships, and learn from Nigeria’s experience.
In response, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of NITDA, commended the Zambian government for taking the initiative to study Nigeria’s NPKI, highlighting the importance of African countries working together. Inuwa emphasised that digital strategies should transcend borders and foster collaboration.
He shared that NITDA has developed a Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) for 2021-2024, with PKI falling under the Developmental Regulation pillar. Inuwa clarified that NITDA’s regulations aim to enable innovation rather than stifle it. As per the agency’s mandate, NITDA is developing regulations on PKI and will focus on the Certificate Authority (CA) route, while sector-specific CAs will provide certificates for different sectors.
Inuwa also mentioned the importance of commercializing services like digital trust to build confidence in e-commerce platforms. He highlighted the need for PKI solutions to certify websites and build public trust, noting the challenge of foreign countries distrusting Nigerian websites due to the lack of certification.
Furthermore, Inuwa urged the Zambian delegation to develop policy documents for monitoring and tracking the progress of PKI implementation and other digital transformation initiatives. He referenced visits from Ghana, Gambia, and Kenya to NITDA as a source of motivation, indicating the recognition of the agency’s accomplishments beyond Nigeria’s borders. Inuwa revealed that NITDA is working on a playbook to be shared with other African countries to foster a robust digital economy across the continent.
In closing, Inuwa advised the Zambian delegation to pursue approaches that would make Zambia digitally independent and stressed the importance of building the capacity of its citizens.
Dr. Usman Abdullahi Gambo, Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions at NITDA, provided an overview of the agency’s mandates. He highlighted NITDA’s role in developing, regulating, and advising the government on information technology in Nigeria. Gambo mentioned that the journey toward implementing NPKI began in 2012 and has since made significant progress. The Cyber Security Department of NITDA manages the NPKI, and the agency serves as the ideal National Root Certificate Authority due to its role as the country’s IT regulator.