The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON)
last weekend, hosted stakeholders to its annual President’s dinner at Federal
Palace Hotel, Victoria Island in Lagos, with Cross River State Governor, Senator
Liyel Imoke and Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Mrs. Omobola Johnson
standing up to be counted, reports ITRealms.
This year’s edition, held on Friday, March 6, 2015, ITRealms also reports, had its theme:
Software and Local Content in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Ecosystem, witnessed the
presentation of awards to individuals and the state that have played key roles
in ICT in the country.
They included the Honourable Minster, Ministry of
Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, and the Executive Governor of
Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke and Cross River State
Government for supporting and promoting software in Cross River.
In his welcome address, the chairman of the occasion and
immediate past president of ISPON, Dr. Chris Uwaje, ITRealms learnt, thanked the present
leadership of ISPON for making this year’s President Dinner possible and
stressed that it is time for less talk and more action on how to tap from this
multibillion dollar sector of the economy through local content, ITRealms reports
Senator Imoke in his opening remarks, said, his people share
a common vision with ISPON in positioning Cross River for application of ICT
and the benefit therein as a leader in the technology.
The minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said ISPON is doing a good
job and stressed the need to acquire relevant skill in the industry. According
to her, ITRealms learnt, her ministry
is working closely with both states and private sec
tor in ensuring the growth
of ICT in the country
President of ISPON, Mr. Pius Okigbo, Jr. thanked all the
guests, saying that he is happy that the President’s Dinner which usually takes
place in February and which was nearly marred by the election time table,
finally became a reality.
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and
Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr. Ernest Nwakpa, spoke on the progress which NCDMB
has made since the president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, signed the Local Content
Policy into law in 2010, noting, they have been able to change the mindset of
Nigerians to believe in the local content initiative.
“How can we get our people to go entrepreneurial” he asked,
stressing that this government is supportive of anybody wishing to do business
in Nigeria. He went further to say that over the past 50 years past governments
had concerned themselves with selling of oil and collecting royalties but all
that have changed now since 2010, ITRealms
gathered
He harped on capacity building, making sure that foreign
companies doing business in Nigeria set up facility in Nigeria, that way, job
creation and other ancillary services would be enhanced for Nigerian’s benefit.
ITRealms further reports
that Nwapa told ISPON to define what they want to do, noting that what is
required basically is communication between ISPON, the oil and gas sector,
maintaining that NCDMB is looking forward to working with ISPON.
Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE
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