Local Content Initiative debuts, as NITDA, BTPF, Zinox drum support

L-R: Director General, National Information Technology Development
Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Angaye, represented by Inye Kemabonta,
Chairman, Zinox Technologies, Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Business
Technology Publishers Foundation (BTPF), drivers of Nigeria Content
and  Advocacy Initiative (NICADi), Ken Ugbechie and President,
Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chris Uwaje at
a breakfast session with Orieginal Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and
unveiling of NICADi at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Lagos on Friday, March 15, 2013.

History was made last Friday in Lagos with the debut of the Nigeria Content Advocacy Initiative (NiCADI), a multi-sector vehicle for the domestication of Nigeria information technology (IT) products and services by key players and regulators in the industry.

The initiative with eye on indigenous IT providers, DigitalSENSE Business News gathered tends to play major roles in Nigeria’s economy and was led by Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, (ISPON), computer manufacturers like Zinox, Omatek and Brian Systems as well as Business and Technology News Publishers Foundation (BTPF); the initiative will see indigenous IT providers play major roles in Nigeria’s economy.

Welcoming guest to the breakfast session with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), chairman of BTPF, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, said the foundation observed low patronage of indigenous technologies, services and human capital in the country.

“This is an anomaly and if allowed to continue portends grave danger to the country,” he said, and called on OEMs and software providers to come together under NiCADI to have a single voice.

Ugbechie quoting from the March 8, 2013 Harvard Business Review, traced the history of Silicon Valley, USA companies such as Apple and Google as well as Indian companies like Tech Mahindra and many others who were strategically funded by tax payers money from USA and Indian governments respectively called for Nigerian government to actively participate the growth of indigenous IT companies.

“There is still so much for government to do to encourage indigenous entrepreneurs, particularly the OEMs and the software providers. You are just few compared to the size of the country but I also know from history that it takes a few to make the desired changed for the larger society. You are the innovators we see. You are the enablers of the economy and our foundation is prepared to give a strong voice to your innovative efforts,” he said.

In his remarks, chairman, Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, recalled the difficulties he faced in pushing for the acceptance of Made-in- Nigeria computers and devices said if the initiative had berthed several years ago, the OEMs would have been better for it.

He commended BTPF for challenging the computer makers and other industry layers to come together under one platform, adding that the IT market is still hugely untapped.

Director of Statistics and Research, NITDA, Mr. Inye Kemanbonta, who represented the Director General, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, said NiCADi is coming at the right time as it will help NITDA who is working on a local content document for the IT industry with 60 per cent work already completed to learn and get inputs from the industry.

Remmy Nweke/DSBNews 
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