IT experts laud Zinox over DDC machines

A cross section of Information Technology (IT) groups have lauded Zinox Technologies for standing firm and taking every step possible to ensure that the just ended nationwide voters’ registration was a success.

Some of the industry experts who commented on the participation of local firm like Zinox in the exercise include the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Charles O. Uwadia, President, Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Dr. Jimson Olufuye, and the Chief executive officer, the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Mr. Shehu Sikiru.

Despite the initial hitches, the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC), announced weekend that over 60 million Nigerians were registered at the end of the 21 days exercise.

But commenting on the role of IT and local firm, the experts said that inputs from Zinox were highly professional and depicts patriotism in supplying the technological backbone for the registration.

NCS president, Prof. Uwadia expressed the satisfaction of his society with the performance of Zinox in being the first of the three contractors to deliver fully.

Zinox, he said, has set a record that justified the position of Nigerian professionals from the beginning that only Nigerian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) be shortlisted for the supply of the DDC machines.

Prof. Uwadia also said that Zinox supplied these machines in 2006 and had the capacity to deliver in 2010/2011.

Equally, he said, Zinox virtually exceeded its mandate in terms of support, commitment and passion, stressing that the performance of Zinox should be a pointer to government in future considerations of Nigerian professionals in procurement, consultancy, manufacturing, training and delivering of systems.

“This should translate into patronage so that local content would be substantially improved upon,” he said.

For ITAN president, Dr. Olufuye, he was very proud with the performance of Zinox, an ITAN member, for being the first to deliver among the trio contracted to supply 132,000 DDC Machines.

This feat by an indigenous company, he said, could best be appreciated against the background that Zinox supplied 80,000 machines representing 60 per cent of the entire order within the stipulated 35 days.

His association, Olufuye noted, was grateful to INEC and the Federal Government for the confidence they reposed on the capacity of a world-class local company to deliver.

“There were anxieties at the beginning of the exercise but all that were quickly set aside as soon as INEC upgraded the software which had nothing to do with Zinox,” he said.

Dr. Olufuye also expressed delight that the software being used was written by Nigerians and , stressing that this achievement would evolve into appreciable patronage for the Nigerian software industry.

In his reaction, the Chief Executive Officer, CPN, Mr. Shehu Sikiru, gave kudos to Zinox for delivering its quota of the DDC machines ahead of time thereby bringing relief to an apprehensive nation.

Shehu said that the initial hiccups could be ascribed to environmental problems, adding that the professional aspect came into play with the decisive way that INEC and Zinox resolved the issues.

He gave Zinox additional commendation for the patriotism of sending two additional engineers to each state of the Federation including Abuja in effort to assist INEC even though this was not part of the deal.

“The performance of Zinox is a defining moment in the public perception of the Nigerian computer professional and henceforth Government would be expected to give us a little more respect” he asserted.

Zinox Technologies Ltd, prides itself as foremost integrated ICT firm, which was launched in 2001 by a team of tested IT technocrats with a combined experience of over 128 years in different continents led by Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh.

Remmy Nweke:
ITREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D