Industry 4.0: Participants urge FG on deliberate ICTLocal content consumption - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Participants at the 2020 ICTLoca Convergence Series in Lagos, have reminded Nigerians that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0) is here and the Federal Government (FG) should encourage deliberate consumption of local Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods and services, reports ITREALMS.

The participants in a communique issued at the end of the one-day community roundtable of ICTLOCA, and made available to ITREALMS at the weekend, urging the government to ensure compliance at all levels in accordance with the available Acts and Executive Orders.

They also recommended that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should ensure that the websites of Nigerian companies registered or bidding for contracts must be hosted locally, use a .ng domain name and email address.

The 18-point communique endorsed by the Secretary, ICTLOCA, Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo, participants sought MDAs to provide ICTLOCA access to the Annual Nigerian Content Performance Report relating to ICT Contracts across industry sectors and other relevant information that will assist the Association.

Further, they called on the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to firmly certify Local ICT Software developers and Local Software Vendors.

In addition, they canvassed that “Stakeholders must ensure that Enforcement and Monitoring of Local Content Laws and Policies of government on the promotion of local content in ICT (by CPN, NITDA, NCC and other relevant regulatory bodies) is implemented.

“MDAs to maintain a database of the formal and informal ICT skills and capabilities, with Open (statistics) Data Access to all Stakeholders.

“Government through its MDAs to identify, support and fund young innovators in the ICT industry and implement intervention programmes to correct the identified skills and competence gap.

“MDAs to support ICTLOCA’s efforts to ensure the patronage of local ICT goods and services. And CPN certification should be a sufficient requirement for the registration of ICT practitioners on the NJQS.

“Stakeholder’s to Intensify collaborations between NCDMB and NCCF-ICT to increase awareness and sensitization of practitioners in the ICT industry via ICTLOCA with the adaptation of the Ten (10) Years Strategic Plan.

“NCDMB in collaboration with NITDA, NCC and other relevant government agencies should support existing and new ICT Hubs to be more efficient, sustainable and relevant to the needs of the industry.

“Government through the relevant regulatory agencies should encourage all to adhere to local content laws and policies.

“All relevant sections of the Acts and Executive Orders related to promotion of Local Content should be translated into guidelines.

“MDAs to collaborate with ICTLOCA to immediately conduct a survey to determine the quantum of ICT goods and services utilized in the sector, the percentage provided by Nigerians and foreigners and the Skill set required majorly by local ICT practitioners to undertake the provisions of ICT goods and services in the sector.

“MDAs to facilitate the participation of OEMs and ICT practitioners in Nigeria to drive investment in Local Content.

“NCDMB to organize relevant trainings and seminars for ICT practitioners to enlighten them on project tendering and ICT Jobs and Service contract awards processes and implementation in the Oil and Gas Sector.

“All Stakeholders to ensure promotion of Ethics and Standard, because hard work still pays.

Even as they advised NCDMB to consider unbundling jobs in the Oil and Gas Sector to create opportunities for Local ICT SMEs to partake in projects that are relatively within their financial capability.

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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