NITDA Forms BOT For Outsourcing Firms

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has tasked the new board of Nigeria Association of Information Enabled Outsourcing Companies to work hard on developing the sector.
The acting Director- General of NITDA, Dr Ahiru Daura, gave the advice yesterday in Abuja, while inaugurating the board of the association.
He said that the inauguration of the board was a milestone toward developing Nigeria’s outsourcing sector.
He told the members that the journey actually started in 2011, when an outsourcing conference was held in the country.
Daura said that the resolution of the conference was to have a board to oversee and guide outsourcing activities in Nigeria as obtained in other countries.
“Your board is the highest body to give directions, policies and all that is needed is to drive the association forward.
“I will therefore urge that we work hard so as to move the association forward and make Nigeria a very important outsourcing hub not only in Africa but beyond also.’’
Daura said that a lot of jobs and other benefits could be derived from outsourcing, but added that “Nigeria is not getting that in spite of its capabilities.’’
He said that there was the need to push forward and work hard to get the industry booming and flourishing.
“India and Ghana and some other countries are really getting it and we have all the mechanisms to succeed.
“In fact, we have more capabilities than India for outsourcing to flourish in Nigeria, what we need to do is to be organised, and with the present board it is achievable.’’
Daura pleaded that the agency would give all the necessary support to members in carrying out their assignment toward ensuring developing outsourcing industry in Nigeria.
Dr Chris Uwaje, one of the trustees, said that outsourcing was the only sector that could employ over a million people.
Uwaje, who is the President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), described outsourcing as the backbone of economic development.
He said that outsourcing was the only dynamic sector that could create between 5,000 and 10, 000 jobs in the country.
He added that Nigeria could export outsourcing knowledge more than Ghana to the whole world.
“We were told that from the remittance fees of Nigerians in the Diaspora, they have been able to bring about 21 billion dollars annually into the Nigerian economy; that is a brain drain that we want to address.
“ Now we want to ensure that we can multiply that by outsourcing so that they can remit about 100 billion dollars back to Nigeria annually.
“Outsourcing is the core backbone of an industrial economy,’’ he said.
Uwaje pledged that the board would work with the management and staff members of the agency for the development of the industry.
Members of the board include Mr David Onu, CEO Interra Networks Ltd., Mr Ikenna Odike, Managing Director, Customer Contact Solution Nigera Ltd, Mrs Florence Seriki, Group Managing Director, OMATEK Venture Plc, and Jacqueline Yemi.