Pantami, NITDA DG on Policy Thrust for It Development in Nigeria

With the notion that the Nigerian IT industry is one of the fastest growing in the world, it is, however, obvious that it will require adequate policies and guidelines to sustain the growth.

I recently caught up with Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, which is the Agency empowered to regulate the IT industry in Nigeria and had a robust discussion with him on IT development in Nigeria.

On his strategies to take the IT industry in Nigeria to the next level, the NITDA DG made it clear, in the first instant, that, with the scope of the mandate given to the Agency, which is about 20 major ones and about 100 minor ones, it will be difficult to take them on simultaneously.

This is because if the economic and other extraneous factors. He, however, stated that this is why he had to prioritize the scope so as to pursue those areas where Nigeria needs immediate intervention and that will make a difference.

This was after consulting the senior management staff of NITDA and other stakeholders from outside.

Dr. Pantami labeled his strategy as "Strategic plan on how to transform the IT industry in Nigeria". The thrust of the plan, according to him, is to pursue the regulatoryroke of the Agency, which has not been significantly done for a while now.

This is because NITDA had, over the years, been gradually transformed to an administrative Agency, rather than a regulatory one. He maintained that, any contract that will be awarded by the Agency will be such that it will ensure that Nigeria becomes a more knowledge-based nation.

He stated that NITDA, for instance, is empowered to give clearance on IT imports and failure to do this, elicits court actions, a fine and jail term.

He said the idea is to ensure the promotion of local content in our IT industry, such that, whatever we have here, we will not import. This is because,  by importing, we are putting more pressure on our local currency.

He reiterated that NITDA will embark on enlightening the public on its regulatory roles.

Dr. Pantami maintained that we need to support and strengthen our local software developers through collaborations as well as assist local manufacturers of hardware to grow. Regarding the notion that our local software developers cannot compete with those imported from overseas, the NiTDA DG said this falls within the purview of the need to strengthen our local content development and capacity building. "We have individual capacity but lack collective capacity", he said.

The DG, therefore, stated that there is the need for collaboration and support in order to improve capacity and quality like it was done  in India, etc.

He further said that NITDA is trying to collate a database of Nigerian software, hardware and other related IT experts, so it can keep in touch with them. What some of them need is a Federal government voice and support to enable them get collaboration from abroad and not necessarily money.

On some if the policies he will like to see pursued in order to help the IT industry in Nigeria grow, the NITDA DG stressed that the regulatory role of NITDA should be pursued and he will like to push for amendments to the fine stated for default of the regulatory stipulations, so that it will be stiffer to serve as deterrent.

On what he will like to be remembered for in the next one year, he stated four objectives as follows:

1. That NITDA truly represents its mandate; i.e., its regulatory role.

2. That NITDA is removed from administrative role to IT-driven Agency.

3. Support local content

4. Capacity building and job creation.

You can view the full interview:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A8lBovhezc&t=29s&list=PLl6IvhbhEqwyxS8ISpOr2UFm2bWEVqcM9&index=4

CFA is the Founder, www.techsmart.ng and Co-producer/Presenter,Tech Trends on Channels Television