Remita, the e-payments and e-collections solution platform developed by SystemSpecs Limited, has won an international award.

The platform is used by federal government agencies for the treasury single account (TSA), which has been reputed as saving trillions of naira usually lost to corruption because of the opaque nature of government accounting.

SystemSpecs Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading software development and solutions companies, won the award for its use of Remita “as a tool of national and economic development”.

The “leadership in technology” award was conferred on the company in Scotland on the April 22, hosted by the Africa Forum Scotland, according to a statement from the company.

Beside the award in Scotland, John Obaro (pictured), SystemSpecs managing director, was also recognised as the software personality of the year at the Nigeria communications week’s Beacon of Information and Communications Technology (BoICT) Awards in Lagos on April 23.

Speaking about the awards Obaro said: “We dedicate these awards to all the hardworking Nigerians that roll up their sleeves every day to devise innovative, home-grown solutions to the various challenges facing us as a nation, thereby contributing their respective quotas in making Nigeria great again in the ever watchful eye of the global community”.

The Africa Forum Scotland is a Scottish/UK based strategic umbrella platform that specialises in the growth of the public and private sectors in Africa.

SystemSpecs was awarded the leadership in technology award in recognition of its promotion of excellence, best practice and innovation, including the use of Remita.

Obaro was also conferred a fellow of the Centre for African Policy, development and research, Scotland and a research centre was also named after Obaro, at the Africa Centre for Policy and Research, Scotland.

The John Tani Obaro Centre for IT development was dedicated to Obaro “in recognition of his leadership and outstanding contribution to Software and IT development in Africa”.

For the BOICT award, over 1.3 million people were said to have voted in the various categories with Obaro, emerging the clear winner in ICT Personality of the year category with 874,871 votes.

In a letter addressed to Obaro, Ken Nwogbo, chairman of the BOICT organising committee, said “the votes are a testament to your talents, innovations, contributions and commitment to the growth of ICT in Nigeria”.

The 24-year old SystemSpecs is widely regarded as Nigeria’s flagship software company and home to many of Nigeria’s exceptional software talents.

Its flagship software, Remita, is the electronic platform that makes it easy for organisations and individuals to receive and make payments across multiple channels and financial institutions.

http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/remita-the-tsa-platform-gets-international-award/

In Nigeria, we do not appreciate home-grown software. If it was a platform developed by Visa or any other international company, you will see Nigerian firms falling over themselves to place congratulatory messages in the papers to wish them well. _smh.

Anyway sha, well done SystemSpecs. Some of us will always salute your ingenuity. We recognise excellence when we see it. As for your detractors...there is only one phrase for them - "Shame to bad people!"