Prof. Cleopas Angaye, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (Nitda) has said that e-Nigeria conference, West Africa’s biggest ICT showcase has become a global brand .
According to him, the fast pace of Nigeria’s IT growth and the unlimited global market opportunity we provide as further added to the wide acceptability and international attraction that e-Nigeria is now enjoying.
Angaye said the event is designed to address key issues in relation to developing Nigeria’s IT capabilities to match the demands of the digital age.
He added that if Nigeria’s must play actively in the digital age attention must shift from consumerism to active production of IT products and services, hence the theme of this year’s e-Nigeria conference “Local Content in IT Development in Nigeria”
The event which draws attendance from within and outside the continent provides a platform for young IT entrepreneurs, experts, policy makers and other stakeholders as well as showcase business and knowledge innovators and investors across the continent.
The annual conference on information technology will foreground on promoting local content in the country’s bourgeoning IT industry, in pursuance of the government’s transformation agenda.
Scheduled to hold in Abuja the nation’s capital between November 20-22, the conference will feature top speakers drawn from the IT industry and the business world to address grey areas in developing a vibrant Nigerian IT sector.
Key among issues to be discussed include Framework for developing human capital and infrastructure for local content, innovations and technology acquisition in local content development, Value addition and wealth creation through IT and marketing “made in Nigeria” IT products and services
To lead a delegation of high powered speakers at this year’s conference is Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, Former, Vice President, and African Region of the World Bank.
Also expected at international conference are technology giants within and outside the country including the national assembly leadership. State assemblies and governors are also expected.
In the words of the director general of Nitda the growth of Nigeria must be hitched on technological capability and capacity of the citizens.
Matching technical prowess with business skills especially as required in today’s competitive environment, the conference has outlined seasoned professionals and successful business leaders who will prepare the Nigerian IT entrepreneur for the challenges of the 21st century business environment.
According to Angaye, Nitda has over the year trained IT graduates in special skills across notable institutions in the world, now is the time to have these young men and women who are interested in the business terrain exhibit their innovations, meet with industry leaders and understand better the peculiarities of the Nigerian business environment
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