Buhari’s government: ICT stakeholders set digital agenda

By Emeka Aginam
Although technology was at the center of
the just concluded 2015 elections, Nigerian
IT practitioners have expressed fresh
concern saying that Nigeria may not reap the
benefits of digital economy of the 21st
century unless the incoming government
listens to the wake up call of making
Information Technology the centerpiece of
national development mission.

For the IT Professionals who believe that
they have been totally eclipsed out of the
process against the spirit of Nigeria Local
Content ACT 2010 and
the Computer Professionals Registration
Council of Nigeri
(CPN)Act 49 of 1993,the gains of digital
promise of the knowledge economy is at
stake unless the new government makes IT
a national priority.
According to the concerned IT experts,
Nigeria will continue to be digitally colonized
if she fails to take advantage of the digital
promise and opportunities of knowledge
automation presented by the 21st century
information society
Pay attention to indigenous products -Uwaje
For transparent leadership and governance,
the immediate President of Institute of
Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, Chris Uwaje
who has been preaching local content said
that the incoming government must pay
attention to locally developed solution to free
the country from digital slavery by the
western powers.
“I am concerned, just like other IT
Professionals and Practitioners that while
technology is at the center of the electoral
processes, this is the time to pay attention to
IT as the bedrock of national development.
“General Muhammadu Buhari is elected to
govern 180 million Nigerians, but he may not
deliver the dividend of Democracy, unless
Information Technology and IT Professionals
are at the centre of his leadership program.
“ It is practically impossible today to govern
effectively and transparently without
Information Technology.
“IT has made the great difference in the
2015 Presidential election. It has relatively
rescued transparency and restored truth as
the ultimate currency for the prosperous
future of Nigeria. Therefore, sustaining the
critical path and role of information
technology to deliver peoples-first, smart
and innovative governance is a strategic
imperative for our survivability and global
competitiveness”, the Oracle of the Nigerian
IT industry who championed the IT policy
blueprint in 2001 said.
To resolve the national IT challenge, Uwaje
who many industry watchers see as the next
President of the Nigerian Computer Society,
(NCS) said that the new government must
do the following:
*Mandatory automation of all Government
processes, functions and operations (long
overdue)
*Create a consolidated and centralized
National Database (overdue 40 years ago)
*Establish Office of the Chief Information
Technology General of the Federation
*Approve the pending National Software
Strategic Policy and Cyber Security Bill.
(long Overdue)
*Create ten IT or Knowledge Innovation
Parks in the 1st 100 Days in Office
*Establish two Software Engineering
Institutes (SEI) within two years in Office –
in fulfilment of the spirit of the Local Content
Development ACT
*Convert the NYSC to an IT Retooling Camp
as IT capacity Disaster Recovery Strategy
*Create a meaningful stimulus Package to
empower the IT Industry.
Recognize importance of ICT in socio-
economic dev—ISPON
In the opinion of the President of ISPON,
Pious Okigbo Junior, Nigeria may not attain
digital economy unless the new government
recognizes the importance of ICT in the
socio-economi development.
“My expectation is that the incoming
administration will recognize the immense
importance of ICT in development (social and
economic) and set in play policies to drive
economic development with ICT. There isn’t
much one can hope for until they layout what
their vision for the nation is in the coming
years. We can only hope that the gains made
by GEJ in the sector will be built on”, the
ISPON President said.
Culture of process automation in governance
—AfICTA
Also speaking, former President of
Information Technology Association of
Nigeria, ITAN, Dr. Jimson Olufuye who is
also the Chairman of the Africa Information &
Communication Technologies Alliance,
AFICTA, for a better governance, he expected
Buhari’s “Change” to affect government ICT
culture.
“I expect a culture of process automation of
all government service deliverables to
citizens as minimum requirement to foster
anti-corruption and transparency campaign.
Also, I expect ICT regulation and oversight
role of government streamlined for better
service delivery to industry actors (e.g.
Telcos).
“Iam particularly interested in strong
government engagement with ICT
stakeholders locally as it is done in Egypt
where government is actively involved in
developing the ICT industry and
internationally at the UNCSTD, WSIS, ICANN,
ITU and AU”, he explained.
IT Professionals in government boards—Awe
In building a digital society, the role of IT
professionals, according to Jide Awe,
Innovation and Development Advisor cannot
be restricted to contract awards, supply,
provision and support of IT solutions.
IT professionals, he noted should to be
represented at the highest levels in the
policy and decision making process.
Gaps In cyber security
For Awe, gaps in cyber Security and IT
legislation portend grave implications for IT
development and national security.
“The enactment of relevant laws has been
slow. The call for strategic intervention to
fast track the enactment of appropriate
legislation is long overdue”he said.