THE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has cancelled the 2016/2017 NITDEF Scholarship selection process.
According to a statement from the agency, the decision was necessitated due to serious budget deficit experienced in the agency’s 2016 budget year, which the scheme was appropriated for but no money was released to fund it.
It added that the the agency has made the appropriation for the scheme in its 2017 budget year, consequently, a new selection process would be announced soon.
Management, it said, urged all affected to participate in the 2017/2018 NITDEF selection process, while also assurring all 2016 candidates of not having to go through the regular registration and shortlisting processes.
While regretting any inconveniences this may have caused the applicants, the agency assures all candidates of justice, fairness and equity base on competitive merit.
“It is worthy of note that this is not the first time the agency was not able to conclude the NITDEF scholarship process, the same happened in the year 2012.
“National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was created in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and co-ordinate general ICT development in the country,” the statement stated.
“In line with implementing its mandate, the agency oversees the development and deployment of information technology in the country through human capital development with emphasis on creating and supporting a knowledge-based economy. This will enable Nigeria to become a global key player in ICT. Capacity building remains a priority in the strategic roadmap of NITDA and the agency will strive to carry all Nigerians along,” the statement stated.