While Nigeria gradually moves down the path of diversifying its economy from oil, the federal government is seeking to reduce the level of foreign dominance in the nation’s fledging Information Communications Technology (ICT) market, industry observers say.

Plans are already in motion to ensure that Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy by GDP, produces 25 indigenous and sustainable software companies by 2017, the ministry of communications technology, has confirmed. This however represents one in a series of high-powered initiatives specifically geared towards increasing local participation in the ICT industry.

The modalities for the realisation of this agenda are currently been ironed out, but market observers are of the view that developing competitive alternatives is easier said than done. According to them, there is still widespread scepticism about the competence and talent of local software developers.

“It is a mind-set that was genuinely developed based on encounters and experiences. But, not all local software developers are lazy and incompetent,” said Segun Akano, managing director, UpperLink Nigeria Limited, an indigenous software development firm.

According to him, many local developers are making massive investments in international certifications and partnerships in an attempt to put their solutions in pole position to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world.

“The government is also driving series of initiatives to support technology entrepreneurs. In the next two years, Nigerian and foreign businesses will have a different mindset about local software developers”, said Akano, in an interview with BusinessDay.

The imminent launch of the Nigerian Content Agenda by government, will also play a massive role in building the local Information Technology (IT) industry.

According to the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotions (NOTAP), Nigeria has lost approximately $1bn to foreign software imports and maintenance contracts on an annual basis over recent years.

Large scale buyers of foreign software include companies in most of Nigeria’s major industries, including banks and financial services, manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunications, ministries and the ICT industry itself, which relies almost entirely on foreign operating systems.

“We are all consumers when it comes to the local software market. Everything is imported,” Emmanuel Bamiyor Iwegbu, managing director of ICT Convergence, a local technology solutions company. Omobola Johnson, minister of communications technology, said, in a paper presentation, that about 300 Nigerian firms play at the fringes of the ICT industry despite its robustness and largeness.

The sector is still largely dominated by multinationals, “which is actually not bad. But to further deepen the industry, there is need to build successful local businesses.” The minister observed that Nigerian firms needed to be more capitalised in order to compete favourably in the global market, dominated by the likes of Google; Oracle; SAP, etc.

She further added the ministry has created guidelines that would support the growth of local firms in the ICT sector including, accelerating the demand for local ICT products; ensuring procurements through local firms and partnership with multinational ICT firms.

Nigerian software sector loses about $360m yearly as capital flight.

Foreign manufacturers also supply most of the ICT-related hardware that is purchased in Nigeria.

As at mid-2013, foreign firms accounted for around 70 percent of the PC market and 100 percent of the handset market.

The government has introduced various ICT-focused initiatives in recent years. In April 2013, the ministry of communications technology, in conjunction with the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) and private sector players, launched the Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) programme, which aims to identify Nigerian ICT enterpreneurs and help them establish successful businesses.

iDEA centre focus on software development, and particularly mobile apps, enterprise solutions and software related to linguistics, education and Business Intelligence (BI).

Individuals admitted to the iDEA programme will be given better access to capital, training, mentorship programmes, business advisory services, shared tools, facilities, and if necessary work space. Only last week, Nigeria presented 14 start-ups for this year’s DEMO Africa, targeted also at creating big businesses out of the country’s ICT sector.

Original Article - http://businessdayonline.com/2014/10/nigeria-in-massive-push-to-reduce-dependency-on-foreign-software/#.VFFX8vnF_24

Nice move but wont be easy to achieve if electricity problem persists.

hmmm na wa o

Ty

Cool

Light!!!Light!!!

Good one.

I see a Nigeria on its way to total independence and all facets of human endeavour. We got all they have and therefore all it takes.

As we push towards this, I advice they should not be in a hurry lest they leave unnecessary back doors which the west might want to explore to rubbish their efforts.

yes we can

PS. Seun pls remove the Islamic declaration from my profile. I am not comfortable with it.

Nice

.

Developing software no be Beans, It's clear that all over the world Apple OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux and co.
It doesn't start one day. If the people are here that can do such support them.
But this is not another Local Content thing.

Ok

It will not happen, we are too antagonistic against our own

Easier said than done

That's a nice move ...Govt needs to commit finances and support to the nigerian tech ecosystem..

We export crude ,cashew, cocoa pods etc , Tech advanced economies export facebook,twitter ,whatsapp ,skype et al...
Who do you think is smarter?

Okay and don't forget. to double. your anti virus.

They should not even go there....

Well, thank God that purchased softwares don't have to come through Nigerian borders. It's only a download button away.

space booked

I only picked one phrase in this article "Easier said than done".

davidsmith8900:
While Nigeria gradually moves down the path of diversifying its economy from oil, the federal government is seeking to reduce the level of foreign dominance in the nation’s fledging Information Communications Technology (ICT) market, industry observers say.

Plans are already in motion to ensure that Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy by GDP, produces 25 indigenous and sustainable software companies by 2017, the ministry of communications technology, has confirmed. This however represents one in a series of high-powered initiatives specifically geared towards increasing local participation in the ICT industry.

The modalities for the realisation of this agenda are currently been ironed out, but market observers are of the view that developing competitive alternatives is easier said than done. According to them, there is still widespread scepticism about the competence and talent of local software developers.

“It is a mind-set that was genuinely developed based on encounters and experiences. But, not all local software developers are lazy and incompetent,” said Segun Akano, managing director, UpperLink Nigeria Limited, an indigenous software development firm.

According to him, many local developers are making massive investments in international certifications and partnerships in an attempt to put their solutions in pole position to compete with their counterparts in other parts of the world.

“The government is also driving series of initiatives to support technology entrepreneurs. In the next two years, Nigerian and foreign businesses will have a different mindset about local software developers”, said Akano, in an interview with BusinessDay.

The imminent launch of the Nigerian Content Agenda by government, will also play a massive role in building the local Information Technology (IT) industry.

According to the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotions (NOTAP), Nigeria has lost approximately $1bn to foreign software imports and maintenance contracts on an annual basis over recent years.

Large scale buyers of foreign software include companies in most of Nigeria’s major industries, including banks and financial services, manufacturing, oil and gas, telecommunications, ministries and the ICT industry itself, which relies almost entirely on foreign operating systems.

“We are all consumers when it comes to the local software market. Everything is imported,” Emmanuel Bamiyor Iwegbu, managing director of ICT Convergence, a local technology solutions company. Omobola Johnson, minister of communications technology, said, in a paper presentation, that about 300 Nigerian firms play at the fringes of the ICT industry despite its robustness and largeness.

The sector is still largely dominated by multinationals, “which is actually not bad. But to further deepen the industry, there is need to build successful local businesses.” The minister observed that Nigerian firms needed to be more capitalised in order to compete favourably in the global market, dominated by the likes of Google; Oracle; SAP, etc.

She further added the ministry has created guidelines that would support the growth of local firms in the ICT sector including, accelerating the demand for local ICT products; ensuring procurements through local firms and partnership with multinational ICT firms.

Nigerian software sector loses about $360m yearly as capital flight.

Foreign manufacturers also supply most of the ICT-related hardware that is purchased in Nigeria.

As at mid-2013, foreign firms accounted for around 70 percent of the PC market and 100 percent of the handset market.

The government has introduced various ICT-focused initiatives in recent years. In April 2013, the ministry of communications technology, in conjunction with the National Information Development Agency (NITDA) and private sector players, launched the Information Technology Developers Entrepreneurship Accelerator (iDEA) programme, which aims to identify Nigerian ICT enterpreneurs and help them establish successful businesses.

iDEA centre focus on software development, and particularly mobile apps, enterprise solutions and software related to linguistics, education and Business Intelligence (BI).

Individuals admitted to the iDEA programme will be given better access to capital, training, mentorship programmes, business advisory services, shared tools, facilities, and if necessary work space. Only last week, Nigeria presented 14 start-ups for this year’s DEMO Africa, targeted also at creating big businesses out of the country’s ICT sector.

Original Article - http://businessdayonline.com/2014/10/nigeria-in-massive-push-to-reduce-dependency-on-foreign-software/#.VFFX8vnF_24

I hear..

Nigeria got it wrong from our basic education system. Practical Oriented education system is the key to Employment, Hardwork, Technology & Science, Strong economy and what have U.
Nigeria that can't boast of toothpick production is dreaming of 30% software market size. Well, nothing is impossible.
I Luv Naija Spirit thou!

Noted!
#1st FP eXperience# #Perfect NL b'day gift#

My boyfriend and I decided to try a new adventure today and we fvcked on the balcony. It was very sweet and I wish it could go on all day. He has an 8inch and my pusssy is still tight enough to lubricate his dicck. Ladies please share your intimate experiences. Let the fun begin

Y do we like putting our hands into so many things without first tackling the fundamental problem that confronts d manufacturing sector?power!!

Today we are ranked as one of the least power generating countries in the world#tackle power first, and every other thing is surmountable

Its a nice idea though,I mean if we can develop our own indigenous softwares without having to pay so much for the ones gotn from other countries #but we need to set our priorities right first

Good move.

Wonderlands:
hmmm na wa o

You just wan follow talk abi

y wont they spend dat amount?? Wen all they teach in our universities are Qbasic,fortran, these are insultin!! Qbasic shud b tut in sec skool. When u spend less dan 30mins a wk in a computer lab and all ur programmin na inside note....wat kind of result were u expectin Too many irrelevant courses in our educational system!

Well, nice.

Hmmmmm so many pessimistics above me

But I believe we shall get there

Truly.. Easier said Dan done..
Another campaign strategy..

As much as I laud the initiative, how many companies are willing to upgrade basic softwares talk less of using local content softwares?

You'll find a company still using Server 2003, Windows XP, Office 2003 etc and refuse to upgrade and you are talking of getting them to use local softwares?

Good luck with that.

Anyways I welcome the idea. Met some great programmers with great ideas and if this works, this will help them grow.

P.S We need more CCHubs

that awkward moment when you comment before even reading the post.

k