The Federal Government has been urged to review the nation’s Internet Technology (IT) policy, legal and regulatory framework to ensure a more conducive environment and effective participation by public and private sectors.
A communique issued at the end of a three-day e-Nigeria Conference in Abuja, said that the review would ensure that the theme “Leveraging on ICT Innovation for Economic Diversification’’, would be speedily achieved.
The conference, organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) brought together relevant stakeholders from both private and public sectors as well as the international community.
According to the communique, some challenges facing the sector were highlighted and these included: poor electricity supply, poor project quality assurance and lack of adequate investments in ICT infrastructure.
The participants mentioned other issues like: systems development, low patronage of locally-developed ICT solutions, inability of young start-ups and entrepreneurs to stay focused on ICT engagement.
The communique noted few or lack of access to capital as part of the challenges facing the sector.
The participants recommended that government should fast track the implementation of the National ICT Roadmap, “stipulating institutional and consistent incentivisation regime and scheme for talented youths and women’’.
The communique said that NITDA, through the Ministry of Communications should revamp NITAC – National IT Advisory Committee to facilitate the synergy of IT cogent Ministries (Communications, Information and National Orientation, Science and Technology; and Education).
The participants said this would help in sourcing for funds among philanthropic Nigerians to support start-ups and technical hubs across the country to tackle complex community challenges and create jobs.
They also suggested that practitioners should provide the right mentorship to the young ones (entrepreneurs), and urged the government to create a conducive environment to ensure that the potential of Nigerian youths are fully developed.
“Also the government through educational establishments in collaboration with stakeholders should review the academic curriculum of institutions of learning to catch up with the fast evolving global trends in ICT.
“Government and stakeholders should build the capacity of practitioners in the areas of research, development and innovation as well as provide the required infrastructure to produce appropriate technologies in order to conserve foreign exchange,’’ the communique said.
The participants also recommended that “NITDA should ensure that local vendors are involved in the certification of software imported into the country’’.
The communique said a deliberate policy should be put in place, stipulating strategies in building capacity of Nigerians in this regard.
“Government should intensify efforts in re-branding Nigeria so as to promote inflow of Foreign Direct Investments which would manifest in the IT sector,’’ the participants said.
The communique said that more than ever, a deliberate sensitisation of indigenous IT innovation should be promoted by NITDA and all state governments, Ministries Departments and Government Agencies (MDAs) to make Nigerians appreciate locally developed products and services.
“Government should create a cyber security ecosystem where youth can be gainfully employed as well as ensure the effective deployment of critical information infrastructure to mitigate cyber attack;
“Government should collaborate with relevant knowledge institutions in combating cybercrime in the country, using the model of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) solutions.
“Furthermore in order to achieve economic diversification through IC, NITDA as the regulator of the sector, should ensure that any project being funded by the Government is IPV6 Compliant;
“Government through NITDA should begin immediate sensitisation and planning for IT technology build-up and usage as implementation strategies, using ICT graduates to be trained on data analysis and other relevant hardware management techniques in IT.
“MDAs should document, refine and continuously automate all their processes for efficient and effective e-governance system,’’
“The Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications and NITDA should stimulate effort to strengthen existing hubs across the country by building more capacities for the development of virile IT innovation products and services,’’ the participants said.
The communique said that ECOWAS should be encouraged to create more competition among service providers in order to reduce the high cost of service provisions across the region.
“Government should as a matter of priority continue to promote local innovations at international fora, ‘’ the participants said.
The conference also recommended that NITDA should foster a multi- stakeholder platform, incorporating funding agencies, Committee of Vice- Chancellors and ICT directors for proper coordination of ICT initiatives.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had called for collaboration among all stakeholders in the sector, stressing that it was key to developing technology that would bring about diversification. (NAN)
