This effort, according to Cleopas Angaye, director general, NITDA, is geared at refocusing the sector to drive the nation’s economy through implementation of the IT policy passed in April 2007.
The approach which is currently under implementation is geared towards human capacity development, infrastructure capacity building and institutional capacity building.
He noted that the Federal Government had realised the importance of the sector and initiated programmes which included the Computer for All Nigerian Initiative (CANI), NITDA’s Computerisation of School Programme and the NEPAD e-school initiative. Others include the Digital Bridge Institute of NCC and the soon to commence NITDA Centre of Excellence.
"The launch of the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) is also a good attempt at developing the ICT sub sector in Nigeria and the rest of Africa . The recently established Internet Exchange point would help keep Internet traffic within Nigeria thereby reducing the volume of the use of international bandwidth. The new civil service reform has incorporated IT as a major criteria for appointment and promotion in the Federal Public Service. All MDAs have also been directed to patronise ‘Made in Nigeria PCs’ and the Federal government has entered into Enterprise Licensing Agreement with Microsoft. This is to encourage the deployment of IT at the federal level," he noted.
The establishment of computer assembly plants in Nigeria and the growth in Internet services are indicators that the country is marching to be competitive with other countries like India and Indonesia in the use of IT to drive the economy.
"The wealth and powers of nations are directly dependent on the strength of their Information Technology and the associated human capital. The worth of the global IT market is $4.6 trillion while that of India alone is worth $24.5 billion," he noted.
According to him, there is a great demand and emerging market for investors in the Nigerian IT industry. He therefore called for necessary mechanisms to be put in place for the country to be part of this huge market. Angaye advocated the use of the public-private-policy of the Federal Government as a platform for all stakeholders to be part of this process of adequately positioning Nigeria in the global IT industry.
He noted the targets for further attention as provision of adequate funding for IT development which needs about $8 billion (one trillion naira) annually to catch up with global trends. He also said that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government should up their annual budget for the provision of relevant IT infrastructure in their organisations.
Development and implementation of appropriate framework for standardisation of the IT industry in Nigeria and implementation of the Nigerian e-government programme will also boost the development of the sector.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Chidiebere Nwankwo
Quelle/Source: Business Day, 12.10.2007
