‘Synergy Among Stakeholders: Key to Boast ICT Development in Nigeria’

Engineer Umar Bindir, director-general of National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (Notap) has advocated an effective synergy between science and technology government agencies, the academia and the ICT industry to promote the use of Information and Communication Technology as a tool for National development in the country.

He disclosed this in Lagos at the 44th edition of the monthly Information Value Chain (IVC) Breakfast Forum organised by Digital Jewels; a specialised Information Technology & Project Management Consulting & Capacity Building Firm with focus on Information Security, Information Systems, Information Assurance, e-business, Project Management and Knowledge Capital Development.

The Notap boss who was the special guest at the forum in his presentation titled "NOTAP & the Nigerian IT Industry: Growth Catalyst or Inhibitor" said that partnership and synergy of efforts by all stakeholders in the Science, Information, Technology & Communication and other allied government agencies will adequately protect intellectual property and expedite growth and development of Information Technology in the country.

 He noted that Notap has the responsibility to ensure that technology acquisition and transfer into the country is properly managed. "Notap has the responsibility to ensure that all contracts and agreements in all sectors entered into by Nigerian companies to transfer technology from foreign countries are duly registered".

Adedoyin Odunfa, Digital Jewels MD/CEO in her presentation titled "Nigerian IT Industry: Growth Enablers & Inhibitors" said developments in technology have enabled various initiatives such as Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, E-ticketing, Vehicle tracking, E-payment (school fees, etc), E-Recruitment, E-learning, and E-admin(e.g. Autoreg, Jamb, WAEC, NYSC).

She however explained that major inhibitors to the growth of IT industry include inadequate security, power, bandwidth, Cybercafés, trust, awareness, Legal & Regulatory Framework, skill base, stakeholders e-readiness, social-cultural context among others.

The Digital Jewels CEO reiterated that for the country to extract maximum economic, business and social benefits from the use of digital technology, it must ensure affordable access to the highest quality of fixed & wireless data &voice connection; it must establish ICT as a focal point for education; make possible the wide scale provision of goods and services online which provide genuine utility to citizens and businesses; encourage greater innovation and entrepreneurship to create the best channels for ICT enabled change to filter the economy; and ensure that the legal regime avoids placing undue shackles on the use of technology, while also providing protection to people and organisations from its abuse.

She quoted the conclusion of the World Economic Forum’s Network Readiness Index:  "Government, in concert with business leaders, universities & other stakeholders can create conditions for digital economy to take root".

The Information Value Chain (IVC) Forum is a monthly gathering of ICT professionals which holds every second Wednesday.

 It provides a platform for knowledge sharing, information exchange and networking for executives as they climb the corporate ladder.

This interactive Forum helps executives to keep abreast of pertinent trends on increasingly important issues which can affect their individual and corporate competitiveness.

 The breakfast forums feature a carefully selected mix of consultants, practitioners and industry leaders with a carefully targeted audience consisting of a cross section of industry-shapers for today and tomorrow.