News
Government, Lack of Trust Killing Local Software
Nigerians do not trust local software, leaving the industry with potentials to generate some $100 billion annually to operate in fits and starts, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now report.
Also, the government supposed to support the industry with political willpower look elsewhere, unbridled importation of software into the country contibutes to killing what is left of the indigenous developers.
As a result, Nigeria is the prime destination of all manners of offshore software companies which export billions of dollars annually in the name of deployment and payment for licensing fees.
As if the problems of the local software industry are not enough, lack of continuity in policy formulation, strategic plans, and implementation procedure as well as high interest rate on loans and the absence of venture capital have also conspired to hobble the growth of the industry.
Local practitioners warn that unless government moves to check the organized chaos and the unregulated importation of software products and service by public and private sectors, the industry will collapse.
They said with quality of human capital in the country, Nigeria can emerge as a global competitor in the software market with profound effect on wealth and job creations.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the global software industry has grown purely on the strong political willpower of government of various countries not only to export their local knowledge solutions but also to ensure the local usage and patronage of such solutions.
In Nigeria, government’s lip service to promoting local content and indigenous has manifested in its lack of vision and commitment.
James Agada, managing director of ExpertEdge Software Limited noted that it is wrong to reason that the software sector could develop in isolation of other sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“What is working in Nigeria? The software industry will only grow at parity with every other thing in the country. Take a look at education, infrastructure, security, and power, what is working at optimal level? Software industry will grow when every-thing-else begins to experience growth,” said Agada.
He noted that “nobody trusts Nigerians and anything from Nigeria. Trust is a critical element of the development equation. When our politicians behave the way they do, and the youth take a cue from them to go on the internet and transact unwholesome businesses, it impacts negatively on the national psyche.”
Nodding in agreement, Akeem Aponmade, an intellectual property law expert, noted that Nigerians must first appreciate the work of a software developer as owner of “intellectual property.”
Getting Nigerians to appreciate the work of a software developer means that government must lead the way by purchasing and encouraging Nigerians to purchase locally made software.
Chris Uwaje, president, Institute of Software Developers of Nigeria (Ispon) and an avid campaigner of local software said that government must act fast in boosting local software development in the country, in order to save the situation.
In one of his campaigns for local software, he said that: “A simple National Software Development policy and conscious IT legislations (Acts of the National Assembly) can turn the Nation’s Software fortune around. The time to act is now! Our universities need software strategic plans and a robust Campus Intranet Infrastructure Backbone to engage in the knowledge economy. New knowledge must precede new technological products and the supercomputer of today will become the everyday nano-computer of tomorrow”.
But Agada said there are urgent things to do.
“Our number one priority as a nation should be development of the power sector, and other things will grow along. The mistake of comparing Nigerian software industry to that of India should not arise,” he stated.
Concurring, Aponmade said, “You must appreciate the fact that this intellectual property adds value to the turnover of a given industry. We have to appreciate the fact that intellectual property has the propensity of adding value to the GDP of the nation.”
He challenged the government to come up with workable policy aimed at creating an enabling environment for software developers to strive in the country.
“The government can start by asking all its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to consume local programmes developed by Nigerians. The armed forces and other security agencies should also be compelled to not only use Nigerian programmes, but be made to pay good value for the properties,” he enthused.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek also gathered that the judicial system needs to be strengthened for the protection of intellectual property owners.
India, one of the countries globally acclaimed as having done well in ICT development over the last two decades is said to have done well because it has put in place world class infrastructure for the sector to grow.
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading digital banking platform, has announced the launch of its ₦400 million festive rewards campaign, designed to reward users with cash prizes and fully sponsored international travel experiences for everyday transactions on the PalmPay app.
The campaign will run from December 17, 2025, to January 8, 2026. The campaign is designed to reward everyday transactions with extraordinary experiences. It runs alongside PalmPay’s Purple December brand campaign, which focuses on wrapping up the company’s key brand and community initiatives for the year.
At the centre of the rewards campaign is the PalmPay World Travel Carnival, an interactive card collection experience that allows users to earn city cards by completing transactions on the app. Users are required to collect five city cards – London, New York, Dubai, Sydney, and Cape Town and combine them into a World Card, which unlocks a share of the prize pool.
The more World Cards a user creates, the larger their share of the cash rewards. Any extra uncombined cards can be swapped with friends and other PalmPay users to help complete additional World Cards.
Beyond cash rewards, the Carnival also offers Free Global Trips. In each round, the top two users with the highest number of eligible transactions (₦100 and above) and at least one World Card will win an all-expense-paid international trip.
The travel grand prize covers:
- Visa fees
- Round-trip international airfare
- 5-day, 4-night hotel accommodation
- Side attraction
- Meal expenses
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All transportation for scheduled tour activities during the trip
Winners will be determined through a transparent leaderboard system, with prizes credited automatically at the end of each round on December 25, December 31, and January 8.
Participation is simple:
- Complete tasks on the PalmPay app, such as Airtime, Data, Transfers, and other specific transactions listed in the app, to earn cards.
- Collect all five city cards.
- Swap cards with friends to complete your collection.
- Combine cards to form a World Card and earn cash rewards.
- Perform more transactions to climb the leaderboard for a chance at the global trip prize.
To ensure fairness, PalmPay has instituted strict rules: no cheating, bots, fake accounts, or manipulation. Any violations may lead to disqualification or account bans. Additionally, the Free Travel Prize is limited to one per user throughout the campaign.
Speaking on the launch, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing & Communication, “This festive rewards campaign is about turning everyday banking into meaningful value for our users. With the World Travel Carnival as the headline activation, we are reinforcing PalmPay’s promise of being the smarter way to bank—where smart financial decisions unlock bigger opportunities.”
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a nationwide energy survey aimed at closing long-standing data gaps in Nigeria’s power sector. The initiative is expected to guide policy, attract investment, and accelerate universal electricity access.
Signed in Abuja, the agreement establishes a National Energy Survey based on the Multi-Tier Tracking Framework (MTF), a globally recognized methodology that measures electricity access not only by grid connection but also by quality, affordability, reliability, and usage of electricity and clean cooking solutions.
The survey will be implemented under the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank. Dr. Abba Aliyu, REA Managing Director/CEO, said the partnership underscores REA’s commitment to evidence-based rural electrification planning and will generate detailed insights on electricity access and off-grid solutions nationwide.
Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Statistician-General of the Federation/CEO of NBS, emphasized that reliable statistics are essential for effective policymaking, assuring that NBS will provide technical oversight, sampling expertise, and quality assurance to meet global standards.
The survey will assess energy access, household affordability, expenditure patterns, and the adoption of off-grid technologies such as solar home systems, mini-grids, and clean cooking solutions. REA will provide sector expertise and policy alignment, while NBS manages regulatory approvals, methodology, and technical supervision.
Funded and technically overseen by the World Bank, the exercise will run for 18 months, with the resulting data expected to improve national energy planning, programme targeting, and private sector investment, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
Officials said the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency coordination, enhancing energy data availability, and advancing Nigeria’s goal of universal electricity and clean cooking access.
The Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), the nation’s foremost self-regulatory body for the blockchain industry, has completed its election cycle, heralding the beginning of a new executive council dedicated to scaling Nigeria’s digital economy.
The highly anticipated elections concluded recently with the emergence of a new leadership team poised to champion industry standards, foster innovation, and drive widespread adoption of blockchain technology across the country.
The newly elected executives, who will officially assume their roles in January 2026, represent a blend of legal, financial, and technical expertise critical for navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.
Leading the charge is Mela Claude-Ake, a lawyer, who has been elected the President of SiBAN to succeed the outgoing President, Obinna Iwuno, whose tenure was marked by significant achievements, including facilitating crucial reforms and forging strategic partnerships with regulators and other critical stakeholders in the digital asset industry. Mr. Iwuno will formally hand over the reins to the new council in January 2026.
Other elected to the executive council are Chimene Chinah – Vice President 1, in charge of Blockchain education and adoption; Oroke Cornelius – Vice President 2, in charge of membership, strategic partnerships, and funding; and Ayo Shonibare – Vice President 3, in charge of policy, regulation, and ethics.
Others are Ugochukwu Peters – Vice President 4 in charge of digital asset operations and capital markets, Mbene Vivian – Chief strategy officer in charge of projects and incubation, Olufunmilayo Tugbobo as Financial Secretary/Chief Financial Officer, and Chiemeka David Ohajionu as Chief Communications Officer.
The newly elected council’s structure reflects SiBAN’s commitment to addressing key pillars of the blockchain ecosystem: from grassroots education and fostering innovation through projects, to establishing robust regulatory frameworks.
In his acceptance speech, Mela Claude-Ake emphasized the vital role SiBAN plays in shaping the future of finance and technology in Nigeria.
“The trust placed in this new council is not one we take lightly. We inherit a great foundation built by the outgoing team. Our mission now is to accelerate. We stand at a critical juncture where the potential of blockchain to revolutionize every sector, from finance and governance to supply chain, is undeniable. This new council will focus relentlessly on advancing smart, collaborative regulation, democratizing blockchain education, and protecting the interests of all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria remains a leader in the African digital economy space,” he assured.
He added that he is humbled by the opportunity to be the face of one of Nigeria’s youngest and most promising sectors — blockchain tech.
“As a tech enthusiast I am excited at the possibilities. The ecosystem needs careful nurturing by the government. My administration will be focused on building new bridges for the blockchain sector internationally and domestically, establishing trust with the public and unifying the sector. I enjoin all blockchain stakeholders in Nigeria, connected to Nigeria or of nigerian heritage to join hands together with my administration in building the industry of our dreams.”
The industry now looks forward to the handover ceremony in January 2026 and the initiatives the new SiBAN leadership will unveil to solidify the association’s role as a catalyst for innovation and a respected partner to the Nigerian government.
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