An ICT expert, Akindayo Akindolani has urged the Ministry of Communication to enforce the use and purchase of locally made IT solutions by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).
Akindolani made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said this would create more jobs, empower the youths and boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
“The government should promote locally made solutions made by Nigerians like software and hardware.
“It will be good if the ministry of communication can promote locally made and assembled computers and other software by putting a policy in place that will make the MDAs to purchase and use locally made solutions.
“Imagine the government buying up to 2,000 computers or laptops from local producers like Omatek, Zinox and Veda; this will create more jobs for youths and will also contribute to the GDP.”
Akindolani said that a significant impact had been made in the communication sector but more efforts were needed for more improvement in the sector.
“Of course, we are not where are ought to be and there is significant work to be done. For example, the deployment of 4G spectrum across our telecoms operations has been critical to their growth.
“This has had significant impact on commerce, particularly for small internet-based entrepreneurs, who are sitting in their respective small spaces, yet are delivering tremendous values to their clientele.
“I think we have improved from where we started. Are we where the rest of the world is? No, but significantly, we have a lot to do.”
He also called for an increase in the Internet and Broadband penetration that would bridge the gap in ICT.
Akindolani said that such penetration would aid youth empowerment as they would be able to search for almost anything online and could easily access available opportunities online.
The expert called on the ministry to do more in the area of creating enabling environment for IT Startups in the country.
“The ministry is saddled with the responsibilities of creating enabling environment via policies and with the help of infrastructures.
“The ministry is trying to create necessary infrastructure through policies but their impact will be affected by other ministries such as power and others.”
