LACK of funding mechanism may stall the federal government’s Computer for All Nigerian Initiative, otherwise known as CANi.
This indication caved in following lamentations of some of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) who are partnering with the federal government, who are currently seeking for financial support from the major component producers, namely the Microsoft and Intel Corporations respectively.
According to them, there has not been any form of special discount or price incentives from the two core foreign product manufacturers – Microsoft and Intel.
Just as speculation abound over the actual sponsors of CANi project in the country as some industry observers also have expressed fears over whom the real sponsors of the project are.
To some, Microsoft and Intel own the project and to another school of thought, it is the Federal Government of Nigeria.
However, commenting on the latest development, Managing Director, Omatek Computers, Mrs. Florence Sereki, confirmed to our correspondent that although both Microsoft and Intel promised to make some funds available to slash the cost of operating systems, and processors incorporated into every Personal Computer (PC).
As said by her, both foreign sponsors of CANi have failed to provide necessary funds to the local builders to market, promote and drive the initiative, instead they have assumed the marketing and promotion of the initiative themselves, mostly through their agents in CANi.
Also, she said the bankers are not helping matters as they are yet to reduce interest rates in enabling relevant funds for the continuity of the project.
“Unfortunately, Intel and Microsoft did not drop their prices on the Intel’s processors and Microsoft’s operating system for CANi,” she said.
This simply doesn't make sense! Similar initiatives have been executed in other countries, with Intel playing very significant role in the project. Why not in Nigeria? Will CANI die the same death as other government sponsored/facilitated projects?
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