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E-Business

Experts Reiterate Call for Indigenous Software Development

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L-r: Past President NCS, Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye; former Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson and President, ISPON, Dr. Yele Okeremi.
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Experts and policy makers in the software sector have called for the country to engage its teeming youth population in IT related field, particularly the software sector so as to create sustainable IT ecosystem in the country

 

They made this call at the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) 10th annual presidential dinner night, which held at the Prest Cruise WaterFront Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

 

The event themed “Having an Inclusive IT Ecosystem”, had Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, former Minister of Communication Technology deliver a keynote address.

 

Dr. Yele Okeremi, President Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), while delivering his address, said that the most important ingredient for a successful information technology sector in the country is for us to train and engage our teeming youth population in IT related field, particularly the software sector so as to create sustainable IT ecosystem in the country.

 

He stated that the ingredient to having viable IT economy is to create sustainable IT Ecosystem using the success of the Silicon Valley as a bench mark.

 

He explained that a viable ecosystem should be self-sustaining where all participants create some form of value that is consumed by some other members and all players operate in a symbiotic manner.

 

Giving an insight into how the country could catalyze its IT ecosystem to achieve success and become self-reliant and ultimately be a net contributor to the IT ecosystem of the world, Dr Okeremi said that Nigeria that has a high propensity for technology consumption and a suitable age demographics should borrow a leaf from countries like china that catalyzed their industry on the premises of local consumption.

 

He explained that we need to deliberately come up with policy to encourage the mantra of producing what we consume and consuming what we produce.

 

According to him, “For a country like Nigeria that has a high propensity for technology consumption and a suitable age demographics, Nigeria can borrow a leaf from countries like china that catalyzed their industry on the premises of local consumption.

 

“In other words, the country needs to come up with a deliberate policy to encourage the mantra of producing what it consumes and consume what it produces.

 

“The ability to achieve this is quite simple by following the money and studying which areas the country consumes the most technology products.

 

“The country has every right to begin a simple policy of import substitution.

 

“This will ensure the practitioners in the country are automatically provided domestic market access.

 

Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson said that Nigeria is a bright spot for technology industry in Africa.

 

She noted that funds coming into the country to fund technology firms have doubled astronomically in the last three years, noting that it’s a positive factor for the industry.

 

Dr. Johnson noted that software development sector will play a very significant role in the development of IT ecosystem.

 

She called on federal government to enact policies that will make Nigeria a software developer’s hub in the country.

 

The former minister explained that with the right policies, the country can build army of software developers in the country.

 

She urged software developers to fashion out a way where there will be off takers to support and build the ecosystem in order to build thousands of developers in the country.

 

Dr. Johnson decried the capital flight been witnessed now in the sector, where government agencies engage the services of foreign developers at the detriment of local developers, stressing that the money taking out of the country could be used to support more developer, if the these jobs were given to local developers.

 

 

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

E-Business

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

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Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.

Amazon CEO Says AI will Reduce Number of Workers Needed

Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon

“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon  wrote in an email to employees.

He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.

According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.

Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.

However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.

“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.

“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.

The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.

Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.

The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.

 

 

 

 


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E-Business

BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

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Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.

BPP Partners NDPC to Strengthen Data Protection

He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.

He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.

“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.

Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.

He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.

“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.

He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.

According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.

Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.

He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.

Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.

He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.

Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.

Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.

 

 


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E-Business

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

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President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

FG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps

His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.

He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.

“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.

“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.

He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.

In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.

The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.

Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.

It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.


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