Repositioning Nigeria’s $300b software sub-sector

THAT Nigeria’s software sub-sector, which according to experts and industry analysts, is worth over $300 billion is challenged is no more news.

But overcoming these challenges, which ranges from poor funding; perceived lack of required skills; low market attraction and capacity; poor local patronage among others, have become a tall order for the sector.

While the Federal Government has not relented efforts targeted at repositioning the sub-Sector, as witnessed during the regime of former Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, with the commissioning of the Idea Lab. There have also been several individual efforts aimed at encouraging software development, including the set up of Co-Creation Hub, Yaba.

Tertiary institutions are not left out in this campaign focused on giving recognition to indigenous software development in the country.

As such, the need to further reposition the sub-Sector may have informed the Convenant University’s 43rd Public Lecture, which had its theme has: ‘Global Software Development: Challenges and Opportunities in Nigeria.’

According to the Speaker, Prof. Sanjay Misra, Professor of Computer Engineering, Department of Computer and Information Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Convenant University, Canaan Land, Ota, globalization has transformed the information technology industry, Software development offshoring is one of the results of the phenomenon that has gained momentum in the last several years.

Misra said growth and development of the sub-Sector holds the potential of making the Nigerian economy double in six or seven years time.

While canvassing for early exposure of children to basic software development skills, this he said, will not only help to hasten their knowledge acquisition but also transform the country technologically.

He said, “We must move from just emphasising the need to increase money spent on education to ensuring that from kindergarten, pupils need to develop the basic skills required in the 21st century workplace among which are software development. Sound knowledge acquisition is a major milestone that has been achieved in countries, such as India and South Asia and the initiative is yielding positive dividends.”

He also canvassed the establishment of outsourcing hub in major cities in Nigeria, saying it would help to attract global software projects to the country.

Misra, who specifically mentioned Osogbo, the Osun State capital, said such a place would be similar to the Bangalore model in India.

He said, “This zone can be established in a place like Osogbo – being a town where most of Nigeria’s electricity is generated and which is relatively stable. Among other things, it will be adequately equipped and made conducive for attracting foreign outsourcing services.

“The proposed plan to set up a technological park in Bauchi State is a welcome idea, if fully implemented and properly managed, will set the nation on an upward trajectory technologically.”

Misra said there was need to improve the nation’s global image by supporting initiatives like those of Ideacentric, which proposed the set up of a fabrication laboratory in Yaba, Lagos.

According to him, the lab will function effectively if there is sufficient funding. “If such an idea gets funded, it has prospects of attracting outsourcing services that can turn the nation into a technology hub and possibly improving our global image positively.”

Advising outsource service providers to have an active web presence in the country, the CU Don  claimed that foreign companies were looking for business profiles of such providers online.

In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said the new National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy would guarantee a better living standard for Nigerians.

Oyo-Ita, represented by Dr. John Oni, a director in the ministry, urged entrepreneurs to explore the opportunities in the software packages as well as ICT to develop the sector.

She said, “I urge stakeholders in the educational sector to channel their efforts and resources toward encouraging our pupils to develop interest in science and technology-based studies, starting from their elementary schools to higher institution of learning.”

According to her, the role of software packages in the day yto day running of peoples’ national life cannot be under estimated as it is fondly used in virtually every sector of the Nigerian economy such as the banking, government (public), agriculture, health, aviation sectors  among others.

She noted that most professionals have found their task less burdensome through the use professional software packages inspite of its acclaimed cause of unemployment in recent times.