According to a news report at Technology times, the federal government of Nigeria has approved a directive that only ‘Made in Nigeria’ software should run on the IT systems of the nation’s public offices and institutions.
Technology Times checks reveal exclusively that the directive comes into force following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval by President Olusegun Obasanjo that all government agencies and institutions must run only ‘Made in Nigeria’ software.
Read more of the news report
here…..
Opinion:
Did I get the news report right? Or is it the
FEC, that are too stupid to understand that saying something like “Made in Nigeria software only” is not only vague but a sign of IT illiteracy? Or maybe it is just me been too excited about the whole news report. Still can’t figure that out.
Things Nigeria doesn’t have.
1. A made in Nigerian Operating system.
2. A made in Nigerian Enterprise Applications besides small-light scale applications to serve different niches.
3. A made in Nigerian hardware that has a Made in Nigerian software-driver to support it
I can go on and on to list, what we don’t have, not to even mention going to the extent of measuring our competency level, when it comes to developing a cutting edge software that can serve the needs of the local market without borrowing a software from overseas, be it from the open source community or the commercial market.
I think this directive is plain stupid and does not help the Nigerian software industry, besides come to think of it, who are we copying from? India? India is heavily powered by Microsoft besides having a very competent IT industry, if I am not mistaken. I know for sure that you are not helping an incompetent industry by patronising it.
I am very certain that this directive would only just promote more outsourcing and off-shoring by Nigerian labeled IT companies.
What Nigeria needs is a solid infrastructure and an effort in skills development through proper education especially in the IT industry.