Business
NITDA Boss Harps On Enhanced Indigenous Software
The Director-General, Na
tional Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),Prof. Cleopas Angaye, says enhancing and marketing indigenous software as an internationally acceptable brand is of utmost importance to Federal Government’s transformation agenda.
Angaye said this last Thursday in Abuja when he received the final draft of the National Software Policy from the National Software Policy Committee (NSPC).
He said the software industry was of utmost importance in the competitiveness for economies across the globe.
Angaye explained that the country had witnessed tremendous growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in the last decade.
He said the situation had led to the increase in Internet penetration in the country from 200,000 users in 1999 to the current over four million users.
Angaye added that the growth and deployment of ICT in almost all sectors of the economy had led to considerable investment in the software both in the public and private sectors.
He explained that in recognition of the importance of software to economic development, the agency had made efforts at developing the ICT sub-sector.
Angaye said the efforts included the inauguration of the National Software Task Force and the National IT Policy.
“NITDA will continue to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders and the international community in order to ensure appropriate positioning of the country amongst the comity of nations in the current digital age,’’ he said.
The committee chairman, Prof. Oluwole Akinyokun, said that software was a tool for productivity and efficiency capable of leading to better transparency and accountability.
“This means government and the art of governance can be made highly effective, citizen-friendly and contributing to the standard of living of the people,’’ Akinyokun said.
He noted that the document received contributions from stakeholders in the software and ICT development from public and private sectors both within and outside the country.
Akinyokun expressed optimism that the draft policy, if adopted, would help to diversify the nation’s source of revenue and prevent capital flight from the country.
The committee, inaugurated on December 6, 2010, was saddled with the responsibility of drafting a national software policy for the country.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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