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ISPON Wants 70% Software Budget Spent on Local Solutions

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The next battle field for globalization will be of constructive National Policies and Strategies on software, digital Security and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoTs), said Mr. Olorogun James Emadoye, president of the Institute of Software Practitioner of Nigeria (ISPON).

Other sensitive areas, he said, include, but not limited to: Empowering the Youth and the New Creative Class; Understanding and Classifying Software as essential products such as Food & Drugs; Devote great interest to promoting Digital Games with African Content; Engaging and facilitating Access to Mobile Broadband technology/IPv6 and reduce the unavoidable Africa e-Culture Shock of 21st Century.

In lieu with the drives, ISPON President said that President Mohammad Buhari will be doing his government great good by ensuring that the 70% of the over 15Billion Naira budgeted in 2016 for Computer Software Acquisition is spent only on software produced by Nigerians and Nigerian companies.

“The concept of fear and/or ignorance of Technology and Information Technology in particular (in top government policy-makers and informed citizens) have become a critical factor for the advocacy of e-readiness for the financial transaction Ecosystem.

“Government-to-Government (G2G) process automation is fundamental to the actualization of the objectives set forth in our National Economic Empowerment Development Plans; and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

“These plans are focused on how Government-to-Citizen (G2C) interface can grossly benefit the citizenry. Above all, G2G is critically essential to facilitate and accelerate the transformation and enhancement of the vital component of Government-to-Business (G2B) processes.

“President Mohammad Buhari will be doing his government great good by ensuring that the 70% of the over 15Billion Naira budgeted in 2016 for Computer Software Acquisition is spent only on software produced by Nigerians and Nigerian companies.

“This will ensure that the over 65% of our population who are Youth benefit greatly and shall serve as the tunic and pathway from the current recession”, he said.

Speaking on “Nigeria At 56 Which Way”, Emadoye recalled that the United Kingdom (U.K) has introduced coding into the national school curriculum; the Department for Education said its aim was to prepare children for ‘life in modern Britain’ the first G20 country to take this step.

“The clock is clicking and the time can no longer wait for a people who are not ready to take their destiny seriously. It is in the light of the above that I humbly wish to recommend to the Nigeria government as follows: E-Government skill acquisition should be made mandatory for all government policy makers, strategists and Political Leaders to drive social inclusiveness.

“And readiness for e-Everything; establishment of software development fund through the Bank of Industry (BOI) to be administer by the BOI at an interest rate/management fees less than 5% for Software companies and professionals towards developing capacity, attaining standardization and packaging made in Nigeria software to international standards and establishment of special State IT-Innovation Research Laboratories on Indigenous Software Development and Future Technologies and Embedded Systems – focused on Internet of Things (IoT.).

He said that ISPON also believes it’s high time National Software Development Fund (NSDF) be established, to build and estimated 500,000 Developers in 3 years) as large scale IT Workforce, as well as empower Entrepreneurs, Startups, and IT Professionals.

“We also recommend for the establishment of a standing special curriculum drafting committee for primary, secondary and tertiary level of education in Nigeria the committee should constantly retool the curriculums and finally, State should retool all lecturers and civil servants to deliver digital dividend through inclusiveness in the emerging information society (IS)”.

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), is the Industry-Professional body for Indigenous Software Developers and Practitioners in Nigeria.

ISPON was established in 1999 with the aim of creating an enabling environment for local content developers to thrive locally and internationally.

The Body has been in the forefront of championing the advocacy for the application and utilization of locally developed software in order to boost our economy, GDP and give Nigeria an alternative to Oil as a revenue earner.

 

 

 

 

 


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E-Business

OADC Lagos Reinforces Commitment to Local Data Hosting and Digital Transformation @ NDPC’s National Privacy Week Summit

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Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Lagos has reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s data protection and digital transformation agenda through its sponsorship and active participation in the Nigeria Data Protection Commission’s (NDPC) National Privacy Week Summit.

The National Privacy Week Summit, organised by the NDPC, convened policymakers, regulators, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to promote data privacy awareness, strengthen compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), and advance conversations around data security, sovereignty, and responsible data governance.

As a sponsor of the event, OADC Lagos demonstrated its continued support for the Federal Government’s drive toward local data hosting and data domiciliation, which are increasingly critical to safeguarding sensitive information, enhancing regulatory compliance, and building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.

Through its carrier-neutral, Tier III Design certified data centre in Lekki, Lagos, OADC provides secure, resilient, and compliant infrastructure that enables government institutions and private sector organisations to host and manage data locally while meeting international best practices.

Commenting on the engagement, Adesola Adesugba, Country Marketing Manager, Open Access Data Centres Nigeria, said: “We are proud to have supported the Nigeria Data Protection Commission through the National Privacy Week Summit and to stand alongside the government in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives.

“Strengthening local data hosting and domiciliation is fundamental to national data sovereignty, improved security, and sustainable digital growth, and OADC Lagos remains committed to enabling this future.”

OADC’s participation at National Privacy Week Summit underscores its role as a trusted digital infrastructure partner to government and enterprise, supporting secure cloud connectivity, regulatory compliance, and the long-term development of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

Open Access Data Centres is part of the WIOCC Group and operates open-access, world-class data centres across Africa, serving cloud providers, network operators, enterprises, and public sector institutions.


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Kaspersky Launches OT Calculator to Align Cybersecurity Investments with Business Goals

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Kaspersky’s new online tool has been specially developed for industrial organisations to assess the potential costs associated with insufficient operational technology (OT) security.

By offering detailed financial forecasts, the calculator empowers senior management to make well-informed decisions regarding security investments.

Industrial organisations increasingly depend on interconnected systems, elevating cybersecurity to a critical factor in business resilience and profitability.

According to VDC Research, over 60% of industrial companies last year reported that cybersecurity breaches had led to significant costs. Despite this, a persistent disconnect remains between security teams and executive leadership as security professionals focus on minimising risk, while executives must balance cybersecurity concerns with broader business objectives. This misalignment often results in competing priorities and underfunded security initiatives.

To bridge this gap, Kaspersky has launched the OT Cybersecurity Savings Calculator, an innovative online tool designed specifically for industrial organisations to assess the potential costs of inadequate operational technology (OT) security¹.

The primary aim of this tool is to translate cyber risks into tangible financial metrics and support strategic discussions around priorities and budget allocation. By entering details such as their sector, sub-sector, region, company size, breach history, and existing cybersecurity measures, organisations can estimate their potential cost savings and receive customised, actionable recommendations.

The calculator benchmarks performance against industry peers and highlights the company’s position within the current threat landscape.

“We believe this calculator is a powerful resource for transforming complex cyber risk data into straightforward financial insights. It enables OT leaders, security professionals, and executive teams to develop clear, data-driven business cases and recognise the value of cybersecurity investments. With actionable guidance, it promotes a comprehensive approach to resource management and strengthens overall organisational resilience,” comments Andrey Strelkov, Head of Industrial Cybersecurity Product line at Kaspersky.


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Local App Developers Rake $1m in Sales in 2025- NOTAP

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National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has said Nigerian software developers have reached significant milestones with locally made applications generating over one million Dollar in sales across domestic and regional markets.

Local App Developers Rake $1m in Sales in 2025- NOTAP

Dr Obiageli Amadiobi, director-general of NOTAP, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja.

Amadiobi said the development signified the growing strength of Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and how local innovation powers digital growth.

She said it was also a direct outcome of targeted support initiatives led by NOTAP.

She added that the initiative helped to build capacity, protect intellectual property, and connect developers to market opportunities.

According to the NOTAP boss, the journey from concept to impact started with understanding and securing intellectual property (IP) rights, a step many local innovators missed.

“Whether it’s a literary work, a laboratory invention, or a creative digital product, the process of bringing an idea to life demands immense time, skill, and dedication.

“An innovator might wake up with a solution to a pressing problem; spend months testing and refining it and achieve remarkable results; so it is their fundamental right to patent that creation and claim ownership.

“Without this protection, someone else could easily replicate their work; patent it in their name; and legally control what was built with Nigerian brainpower,” she said.

Amadiobi said that the challenge was compounded by widespread digital piracy and counterfeiting, which hit the ICT sector hardest.

“From copied software applications to replicated content on social platforms like TikTok, unauthorised duplication has become a major barrier to growth.

“We see talented young creators develop unique digital content or tools, only to watch others rebrand and profit from their work within weeks,” she said.

The DG noted that most popular online personalities with distinctive styles often don’t realise they could protect their original contributions through IP registration.

She said that to address these gaps and unlock the value of Nigerian innovation, NOTAP implemented a multi-pronged strategy,- a cornerstone initiative – which is the Local Vendor Policy.

“The Local Vendor Policy mandates that foreign technology firms entering Nigeria partner with domestic counterparts,’’ she said.

Amadiobi said that among the performing apps are solutions addressing critical local challenges such as a mobile health platform that now serves 750,000 users across six states.

“There is also the agricultural marketplace connecting smallholder farmers to buyers; and an educational tool that has been adopted by 200 schools to improve learning outcomes,” she said.

She added that the apps were developed by teams that gained skills and resources through NOTAP’s Local Vendor Policy.

According to her, the policy requires foreign technology firms operating in Nigeria to allocate a portion of their technical service fees to local partners.

“Three years ago, many of these developers were only providing support services to foreign companies.

“But today, they are building their own products that compete globally. 60 per cent of last year’s sales came from other African countries, showing our developers can lead on the continent,” she said.

The D-G explained that the one million dollar figure represented sales from over 50 locally developed apps, with individual developers earning between 5,000 dollars and 80,000 dollars from their products.

“Looking ahead, NOTAP aims to double these sales figures by 2027, with plans to expand support to developers focusing on fintech, renewable energy management, and climate adaptation tools.

“These are the sectors identified as high-growth opportunities for Nigerian innovation,’’ Amadiobi said


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