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E-Business

NOTAP DG Cautions Regulators on Policy Implementation

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Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Techologies (l) presenting award to Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) at the National Software Think Tank (NSOFT) cocktail held in Lagos last week.
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Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has cautioned regulators in the country to be firm in implementation of government policies for impact.

NOTAP DG Cautions Regulators on Policy Implementation

Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Techologies (l) presenting award to Dr. Dan-Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, director general, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) at the National Software Think Tank (NSOFT) cocktail held in Lagos last week.

He said that government policies cannot deliver good results if regulators implementing such policies are not firm and greedy. “If regulators are not firm with government policies there is no way you can see impact of those policies,” he said.

Dr. Dan-Azumi, stated this at a cocktail organised in his honour by the National Software Think Tank (NSOFT) in Lagos. He reiterated how NOTAP started local vendor policy which is aimed at building capacity in software ecosystem. The vendor policy means that before any agreement on software is registered in NOTAP, there must be a Nigerian IT company involved in the deployment and maintenance of that software.

“It was a very bold initiative but not without resistance from many angles, the idea is that if Nigerian professions or talents are involved in the deployment and maintenance, original equipment manufacturers have no reason not to come and develop our talents. So, this software local vendor policy became fully entrenched and we insist that at no time will any agreement be registered without a local vendor company.

“We have had blackmails, threats among others, but it is a regulator, if you remain firm those companies coming into this country have no choice than to queue into the policy provided you are not greedy. If you are greedy they can compromise you and that is the end of any regulation.

“After our joint seminar with CWG Plc we discussed freely and found out that software is a sector that must have a deliberate policy not only to develop capacity but to ensure that the policy put in place will force the system to begin to materialise to what is known as locally developed software.

To this end, we set up a Think Tank committee that did a very thorough work. I must commend you, when I saw the quality of work that you produced, if we are able to work along that line I belief it is a matter of time Nigeria will be like India. With the quality of people we have what we need is the policy to strengthen the implementation of those recommendations, he noted.

In his remarks, Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Technologies, organiser of the Cocktail, said that no other sector can provide the strategic, prosperous and sustainable solution for Nigeria’s future, development, security and survivability other than software.

“Software is not just about information technology, but indeed the oxygen for human existence. Our entire life is an infinite genetic Code. That is the absolute significance of software ecosystem.

“The National software think tank (NSOFT) is a convergence of ICT expert group setup by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) as a significant fallout on the resolution of the 2-day ICT stakeholders roundtable on the application and use of software in the financial sector- jointly hosted in Lagos by NOTAP and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

“The main thrust of NSOFT is to advance a 5 year strategic plan to encourage adoption of indigenous software for the security and growth of the economy, build commensurate capabilities and capacities to alleviate the critical challenges of the indigenous software ecosystem and provide a formidable roadmap for the advancement, sustainable development and competitiveness of software Nigeria.

“Ultimately, this strategic plan aims at ensuring the provision of massive employment opportunities for millions of Nigerian youth, contribute to the GDP and become a viral export resource for wealth creation and national security,” he said.

According to him, “in the UNCTAD 2012 edition, special attention was given to the role of software capabilities in accelerating progress towards a more inclusive information society – with particular reference to developing economies including Nigeria”.

He outlined the key issues covered which included but not limited to the following;

  1. The link between software capabilities and development
  2. Critical and regional trends in production, spending, trade, investment, venture capital and employment in the software sector.
  3. The evolving ICT landscape and its impact on software production patterns
  4. Trends and implications related to free and open source software (FOSS)
  5. An analysis of the market orientation of software production in developing in countries.

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E-Business

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

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Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon

“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon  wrote in an email to employees.

He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.

According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.

Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.

However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.

“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.

“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.

The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.

Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.

The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.

 

 

 

 


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BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

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Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.

BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.

He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.

“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.

Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.

He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.

“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.

He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.

According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.

He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.

Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.

He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.

Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.

Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.

 

 


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FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

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President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.

He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.

“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.

“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.

He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.

In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.

The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.

Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.

It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.


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