E-Business
Nigerian IT Developers in Focus
Starting an IT development business requires more than having IT knowledge. You need modern workspace, technical and infrastructural support, mentoring and some other important inputs. I had a chat with Nnamdi Nwanze the Technology and Ecosystem Advisor at iDEA Nigeria on why one needs to have the right basis in starting an IT development business in Nigeria.
Nnamdi is an expert in computer languages and building data structures.
On how he sees the IT development community in Nigeria so far, Nnamdi stated that he sees it as a great developer community with many people learning things right from the universities and on their own.
He said that there is a recent survey that shows that 98% of Nigerian developers are self-taught, so, the sector is growing in leaps and bounds.
Responding to why there is dearth of skills which makes a lot of Nigerians to still export jobs instead of giving to Nigerian developers, Nnamdi sees the reasons from two perspectives.
The first is that, at the university level, the lecturers are teaching and learning the mterials at the same time, so, they do not have the depth of knowledge to impart to the students.
Secondly, he said that some of the developers are self-taught, thus, learning some bad habits along the way. To gain recognition, therefore, he stated that they need to start weeding themselves of those bad habits.
According to Nnamdi, most of the languages still being taught at the university level in Nigeria are outdated, e.g., Fortran, hence, his calling for a complete overhaul of the entire system of teaching at the university level, so that modern languages can now be learnt by the students.
Some of the experiences he garnered while at the United States, which he will like to apply here in Nigeria include passing on the knowledge of how to build Data Structures, using Java language, for instance, which will not start to teach Java language, but how to build software that are resilient and hold data very well, etc. The emphasis should not be on learning languages as we presently have it here in Nigeria.
On what he is actually doing to share some of these ideas and knowledge with young developers in Nigeria, Nnamdi said that there is a course offered by iDEA Nigeria, where a curriculum is set to teach the developers every Tuesday, and this is free of charge. Nnamdi is knowledgeable in languages such as PHP, Java, SQL, and a host of others.
Reacting to a question as to when we can start developing solutions for export, Nnamdi stated that we are currently doing that, stating the case of iDEA Nigeria, which currently has a team that is building solutions for both the local and the international market. In his opinion, he thinks that Nigerian developers go on to learn from foreign platforms not knowing that, for instance, that opportunities for them to learn some of these things are available at places such as iDEA Nigeria.
He stated that you do not have to be a computer science student to be an IT developer, but you need to have the drive as well as the passion for it.
Nnamdi said that from jis experience, working with startups in Nigeria, he is of the view that startups with technical co-founders are able to go to the market with a product faster, scale better and have a full rounded team without spending much. To change the tide of Indians taking over a huge chunk of the pie in IT development, Nnamdi said that our developers here in Nigeria need to reduce their prices to enable them to corner a sizeable chunk of the market too, as presently, they seem more expensive.
He stated that in the United States, their IT developers are charging between 30% to 50% less than what ur guys here in Nigeria are charging.
In the final analysis, Nnamdi recommends that our developers should go out there and learn at places like iDEA Nigeria, universities, etc., and emphasis should be on foundational architecture instead of on learning languages. He also advised that they bring down their prices a little bit so that can compete favourably in the market.
CFA is the Founder, www.CFAtech.ng & Co-producer/Presenter, Tech Trends on Channels Television
E-Business
NITDA, NIMC Partner for Seamless Data Exchange Capabilities
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have announced a collaboration on National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to enhance synergy between digital identity, payment ecosystems and secure seamless data exchange capabilities for Nigeria.
NITDA, which made the announcement on its X handle, said that the collaboration was to further strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
During the meeting, Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA, and Bisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, with some management staff of both organisations, discussed various initiatives, which include building DPI stacks for a secured and seamless data exchange and forming partnerships to transform the national identity system.
This collaboration also aims to harness the potential of the innovative ecosystem and emphasise the use of public-key infrastructure (PKI) to drive digital transformation in Nigeria.
To ensure a smooth implementation, a 12-man committee was set up.
This committee will play a crucial role in kickstarting and harmonising the initiatives and is expected to deliver a comprehensive implementation report within the next 4 weeks.
E-Business
Expert Urges FG to Harmonise NIN, BVN to Tackle Crimes
Noble Ajuonu, head, Sydani Technologies Ltd., has urged the Federal Government to harmonise National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) to tackle crimes and insecurity in the country.
Ajuonu made the call at a media roundtable, organised by Sydani Group in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable focuses on driving sustainability through a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s key development areas.
Ajuonu said that Nigeria could overcome its security challenges and pave the way for a safer, more secure future for all Nigerians by embracing technology and implementing practical solutions,
“We need to harmonise data, prioritise seamless integration of databases like NIN, BVN, and security agency records, establish clear protocols for data sharing and access, with robust safeguards against misuse,’’ expert said.
According to him, the unified data pool will empower intelligence gathering and targeted operations.
He also called for investments in smart surveillance, intelligent video analytics software, training of personnel in data analysis, interpretation of data in real-time to combat crimes.
“There is need to implement a legal framework for call interception in criminal investigations, with strict oversight to prevent abuse, encourage community cohesion, training of tech savvy security personnel with tech-enabled tools.’’
Ajuonu also urged the government to address infrastructure deficit in technology, saying that technology was all encompassing to address insecurity.
“According to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as of December 2023, only 104.2 million Nigerians had been enrolled for the National Identity Number (NIN).’’
Ajuonu added that over 122.2 million citizens left uncaptured for NIN were people in rural areas where enrolment centres, digital services were limited.
“Most crimes are being perpetuated from rural communities and this lack of comprehensive identification creates a gap where elements not captured in the national database can constitute public nuisance, crimes.
“There is the inadequacy in the integration of NIN, BVN and Voters Identification Number (VIN).
“Advanced call interception and analysis tools, used successfully in other countries, could provide invaluable insights into criminal networks and operations but infrastructure is lacking,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Godfrey Petgrave, the Agricultural Expert, Sydani Group, called for empowerment of smallholder farmers with access to finance and training to enhance productivity.
According to Petgrave, Nigeria requires policy reform and institutional strengthening to improve agricultural practices and embrace digital agriculture solutions to address food insecurity.
Mr Akolade Jimoh, another expert of the group on health, advocated for expanded community-based health insurance programmes for rural and underserved areas.
Jimoh added that the country needed to encourage Public Private Partnership to revolutionise products design and quality improvement on health services.
E-Business
Konga launches Infinix Brand Week with Incredible Deals
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce group, is thrilled to announce the launch of amazing deals at its Infinix Brand Week. Infinix, a leading global smartphone brand known for its innovative products and cutting-edge technology promises exclusive discounts and special offers on select smartphones, marking an exciting milestone in the realm of online shopping.
Shoppers can expect nothing short of extraordinary deals on a wide range of Infinix products, all available exclusively on the Konga online platform. With discounts of up to 30% off, this partnership between Konga and Infinix aims to redefine the shopping experience for tech enthusiasts across Nigeria.
Konga Brand Week has become synonymous with excitement and unbeatable deals, and this year’s edition is no exception. In addition to exclusive discounts on Infinix smartphones, shoppers can explore a diverse array of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more.
“At Konga, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best shopping experience possible,” said Rita Ohaedoghasi, VP Marketing at Konga. “The Infinix Week during Konga Brand Week allows us to continue delivering on that promise by offering incredible discounts and special offers on some of the most sought-after smartphones in the market.”
To stay updated on the latest developments and exclusive deals during Konga Brand Week, shoppers are encouraged to connect with Konga across all platforms, including social media and the Konga website. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to score big savings and elevate your tech game with Infinix and Konga.
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