A multi-sectorial partnership initiative, Nigeria Content Advocacy Initiative (NiCADI), has been formed by various players in Nigeria’s ICT sector with the goal of domesticating the nation’s products and services.
Members of the group include the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) and computer manufacturing companies such as Zinox Technologies, Omatek and Brian Systems.
Business and Technology News Publishers Foundation (BTPF) is also a member.
Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman of Zinox Technologies, said he had to confront several challenges in gaining acceptance for made-in-Nigeria PCs and other devices.
“If the initiative had berthed several years ago, the OEMs would have been better for it,” he said.
Ken Ugbechie, BTPF’s chairman, said through the initiative, indigenous IT products and services providers will be able to play major roles in the country’s economy.
He said BTPF has identified a challenge in the patronage of indigenous technologies, services and human capital in the country which he described as below par with foreign ones.
According to him, this is an aberration that must not be allowed to go on because it means grave danger for Nigeria.
He therefore urged other stakeholders including software manufacturers to join NiCADI to unify all voices.
Cleopas Angaye, director-general of NITDA, said NiCADi is being launched at the right time because the initiative will assist his agency’s on-going development of a document on local content for the information technology sector in Nigeria.
