Nigeria’s appetite for software is insatiable; companies in the country spent over $1.6 billion last year, a Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigation has shown.
The bad news however is that over 97 per cent of the software are imported, a situation which Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (Atcon) described as "shameful".
Software is a general term for the various kinds of programmes used to operate computers and related devices.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek
findings also showed that total expenditure on software has been on the increase with the sweeping reforms in the banking industry as well as modernization of companies operating in Nigeria.
The financial sector accounted for almost 60 per cent of the expenditure while the new entrants into the telecommunication industry, took some 35 per cent, the rest is shared other companies in other sectors of the economy.
Only a few Nigerian made software are in use, a situation which has not gone down well with the local software industry.
Consumers of software berate Nigerian software as lacking originality, adaptability to multinational needs and certifications.
"It is really a shame that Nigeria is leaving on the outskirts of the industry. Nigerian software should be an indispensable part of vision 2020 prgramme and Nigeria content should be targeting 100 per cent of the total market. We all have to work towards that" Dr. Ekuwem, said.
