Stakeholders Call For Integrated Framework

Stakeholders have called on the federal government to develop an integrated framework that would enhance the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in national development efforts.

A communiqué which was read by the Deputy Director, Corporate Strategy and Research, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr  Vincent Olatunji, at the end of three-day e-Nigeria International Conference recently in Abuja, said the call became imperative after due consideration of the ICT development in the world.

It called on the government to be in the fore front and educate masses on the need to use made-in-Nigeria ICT products.

According to the statement, the call could be achieved through increased patronage of locally made software so as to engender sustainable market and wealth creation. It also added that it would as well, serve as strategy for building a strong digital economy for the country.

They further tasked the government to push through decisive fiscal policies that could grant tax waivers, as well as protection of intellectual property and preference for locally made ICT goods.

They argued that since no country of the world could thrive on total dependence on foreign goods, the best way out was to encourage locally manufactured products, including that of ICT.

The statement further intimated manufacturers to produce more components locally in order to create jobs and stimulate wealth.

It also made case for full implementation of NITDA’s guidelines of the Nigerian ICT Local Content Development and the National Software Policy to promote growth in the ICT sector.

The communiqué equally stated the need for NITDA to lead efforts to mobilise the private and public sectors toward the achievement of the aims of the local content national strategy.