Developing the Capacity of Nigerian IT

IndustryPresentation by Peter Jack, DG NITDA

Summary

• Introduction• Regulation to the Rescue• Role of • Government• Role of MNCs• Industry Players

• Recommendations

Regulation to the Rescue

• NITDA Act• Subsidiary Legislation• Section 6, 17, 18 and 32 of the NITDA Act• Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development: the Story of the ONC (Office

for Nigerian Content Development in ICT

Role of NITDA and Government

• Chapter 15.2 enjoins NITDA to proactively assist Nigerian companies to improve their processes and product quality• CMMI certifications

• Encouragement of specialized trainings in IT and funding of Centers of Excellence• AITI• Software Engineering Centers of Excellence to produce 200 software engineers annually• Technical & Vocational Skill Acquisition and Training Programme for IT practitioners and small-

scale vendors: Otigba and CAPDAN Iniative

• establish a Journal of Information and Communications Technology in Africa and establish 500 million naira annual research fund to sponsor academic research projects being conducted by Nigerian scholars and educational institutions across the world which focus on developing the IT sector in the country.

Role of NITDA

• Establish technology incubation programs, start-up communities, ICT clusters and other IT development networks to stimulate the growth of the sector. • Government at all levels ( under chapter 11 of the rules) shall source and

procure software from only local and indigenous software development companies; where the capacity for developing such software does not exist locally, procurement, installation and support will be provided by a Nigerian company.• Establish regional Information Technology tradeshows and trade missions

that will provide a platform to grow the local industry• Create an institutional framework for the enforcement of the local content

policy and guidelines

Role of Multi National Companies

• Departure from mere marketing outposts• Local R and D• Value Adding Services• Submit a Local Content Development Plan to NITDA for their

platforms and products as part of requirements for registration within Nigeria and pre-qualification for any project to be carried out with any MDAs. This applies to companies already registered and operating within the country. ( chapter 11 of the Guidelines)

Role of Industry Players

• Industry self-regulation• Chapter 14 of the Guidelines makes it mandatory for Data

Management Companies to host government data locally within the country and shall not for any reason host any government data outside the country without an express approval

Recommendations

• Support of the ONC• Compliance with the Guidelines