The Nigerian Federal government has issued a directive to its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to purchase computers and accessories made by local companies to promote the country’s ICT industry.
Nigeria’s minister of communications technology Omobola Johnson said the government was not apologetic with the “directive hoped to drive growth among the Nigerian PC industry while underscoring that it is a case of putting our money where our mouth is.”
This directive is set to create a larger market for local Nigerian computer makers like Zinox Technologies, Brian Technologies, Omatek Computers, Beta Computers and Veda Computers, among others.
The move was welcomed by Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Technologies who told Technology Times that “the new policy to patronize locally-made PCs by Federal agencies is a welcome development that will stimulate growth of the Nigerian PC assembly industry”.
Earlier this year, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), outlined the requirement for all MDA’s to purchase Nigerian made computers, putting a strict ban on foreign computers and technology products in public institutions and schools.
The Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, has also engaged in a campaign that will ensure that students in tertiary institutions access loans to purchase locally-assembled laptops. This was launched under the Student Laptop Ownership scheme, where parents and guardians are given a loan to purchase these laptops for their children.
The government also established two pilot ICT Incubation Centres at Tinapa Knowledge City, Cross River State and eLearning Centre, Lagos to help develop ICT businesses in the country.
A venture capital fund worth N2.4 billion (US$15 million) was also launched by the same government to provide early stage funding for the numerous innovations coming up in the west African country.
