Nigeria Appoints Fresh Members to Blockchain Policy Steering Committee

The Director-General of Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency announced on May 21 that additional stakeholders have joined the blockchain steering committee. Malam Kashifu Inuwa emphasized that the inclusion of new members aims to ensure comprehensive representation from both the public and private sectors.

Early Stages of Blockchain Implementation

Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of the Nigerian Information Technology Agency, recently disclosed the addition of new stakeholders to the National Blockchain Policy Steering Committee. Inuwa explained that this restructuring is aimed at ensuring Nigeria's blockchain policy implementation aligns with its established goals and objectives.

As reported by Bitcoin.com News on May 3, 2023, the Nigerian government approved what Information Minister Isa Pantami described as the national blockchain policy. Pantami revealed that the government, under former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, had consulted with about 56 institutions and individuals before unveiling the blockchain policy.

According to a report by Nairametrics, the head of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) inaugurated the revamped committee on May 21. Inuwa noted that blockchain implementation is currently in its early stages, with many people still unaware of the technology's potential.

In explaining the rationale behind reconstituting the committee, Inuwa stated:

"We realized the necessity to include more members in the committee to ensure full representation from both the public and private sectors, thereby avoiding past issues."

While the policy originated during Buhari's tenure, Inuwa suggested that it aligns with the current Nigerian leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu's objective of empowering citizens and businesses with secure and inclusive digital solutions.