The National Information Technology Development Agency (Nitda) has set aside the sum of N20 million for the uptake of an umbrella body for IT outsourcing companies in the country, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.
This arises from the need to effectively facilitate advocacy efforts at advancing the development of outsourcing business in Nigeria, to effectively coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of the outsourcing sector and to have an identity that interfaces with government and the rest of the world.
Services enabled by IT outsourcing include software development, website development/development of e-commerce portals, hosted application development and management as well as disaster recovery services.
It also encompasses network operations and administration, desktop support services, data centre support services and help desk services.
IT outsourcing in Nigeria has been hampered by bad leadership, her negative image abroad especially with regards to cybercrime and online fraud, lack of a robust legal frame work that enables outsourcing, lack of robust Infrastructure and power.
Cleopas Angaye, director general of Nitda noted that IT outsourcing in Nigeria is gradually growing and “it is our believe that if the sector is well governed through the umbrella body, it will open doors for enhanced job creation, quick source of revenue for Nigeria and improved performance.”
He explained that outsourcing of IT products and services is a big market and that only partnership between the government and private sector
Angaye assured of Nitda’s continued support at creating an enabling environment for the sector to grow and to achieve the objectives and purposes of the umbrella body.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the proposed umbrella body for IT Outsourcing is partnered after the likes of National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) of India and Ghana Association of Software and IT Service Companies (Gasscom).
Nasscom of India grew at a remarkable pace in 2001. The share of IT enabled outsourcing services in the GDP of India stood at 5.8 per cent in 2009 from 1.2 in 1998. Export earnings in 2008 stood at approximately $40 billion with a yearly growth rate of 36 per cent, which translated the earnings from IT enabled outsourcing services in India to $1000 billion in 2011.
Gasscom of Ghana through its enabled IT outsourcing services has become the new focus for the countries unique potential as harbingers of enhanced job creation and accelerated economic growth.