By Emeka Aginam

Prof Uwadia Charles

As an intervention initiative to kick-start computer education from rhetoric to reality in the country, President of the Nigerian Computer Society, Professor Charles Uwadia has called for the adoption of software development curricula and instructions in educational institutions, especially at “either kindergarten or primary school level.”

Uwadia in his inaugural lecture at the University of Lagos last week titled: ‘Software Systems : The Driving Force behind the E-revolution’ told the gathering comprising IT gurus and academicians that software development principles, techniques and tools should be accorded greater attention in the curricula of Computer Sciences / Information Technology programmes in our educational institutions.

Exposure to programming at the most basic form should begin at either kindergarten or primary school level, he said.

“My experience over the years has shown that many students loathe programming; they perceive programming courses as difficult subjects that should be avoided where possible, and where the courses are compulsory, the students do everything possible to obtain pass mark.

“ This is similar to the perception of mathematics by students in secondary schools. And yet, programming is interesting, enjoyable, stimulating, fulfilling and profitable

“We should create incentives and motivation for the learning of programming – this can be done by creating stimulating learning environment through the provision of adequately equipped computer laboratories; award of prizes and according recognition for outstanding performance; formation of software development clubs in schools as networking for the exchange of ideas and knowledge; organizing more software competitions in schools.

“Teachers and lecturers handling programming courses should re-skill and retool regularly; they must keep abreast of development in the area” he noted.

Speaking further, he was optimistic that Nigeria as a nation can assume a global identity by being an outsourcing destination. In order to participate in the on-going e-revolution, Nigeria, according to him has to be a notable player in the software industry. For this to happen, he advised that the following measures must be taken:

lGovernment should create enabling environment through the provision of reliable and affordable infrastructure – electricity, network and communications, security, software testing facility etc; a model for achieving this is through the creation of IT parks / zones.

lGovernment should provide fiscal incentives for indigenous software developers in form of tax incentives and tariff rebates.

lThe Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks should create a special fund to assist start-up businesses as well as sustain and grow existing developers.

lThe indigenous software industry should be protected; this can be done through enactment of a law that mandates Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to patronise indigenous software as the first choice.

lThe private sector should collaborate with government to build critical mass of IT professionals for the software industry.

The new world order, he said envisages a global society where processes and activities are performed seamlessly with the enabling power of information technology.

“ As a nation, it is obvious we need to do more than we are doing; many areas of our public sector, in particular, need to be computerised – schools, hospitals, airports, ministries, parastatals etc. All around us, we can see glaring evidence of inadequate, ineffective, and non deployment of IT. It is my considered opinion that a systematic and sustained implementation of the revised National IT Policy and the ICT4D documents could change this situation.

“Increased level of computerization and deployment of IT is a sure way of motivating the indigenous software industry,” he added.

Uwadia in his inaugural lecture last week at the University of Lagos had told the gathering a national policy on Software Development should be developed and implemented.

“The Policy is to be derived from the National IT Policy framework. This has become a strategic imperative for nation building, development and creation of wealth.

As an intervention initiative to kick-start computer education from rhetoric to reality in the country, President of the Nigerian Computer Society, Professor Charles Uwadia has called for the adoption of software development curricula and instructions in educational institutions, especially at “either kindergarten or primary school level.”

Uwadia in his inaugural lecture at the University of Lagos last week titled: ‘Software Systems : The Driving Force behind the E-revolution’ told the gathering comprising IT gurus and academicians that software development principles, techniques and tools should be accorded greater attention in the curricula of Computer Sciences / Information Technology programmes in our educational institutions.

Exposure to programming at the most basic form should begin at either kindergarten or primary school level, he said.

“My experience over the years has shown that many students loathe programming; they perceive programming courses as difficult subjects that should be avoided where possible, and where the courses are compulsory, the students do everything possible to obtain pass mark.

“ This is similar to the perception of mathematics by students in secondary schools. And yet, programming is interesting, enjoyable, stimulating, fulfilling and profitable.

“We should create incentives and motivation for the learning of programming – this can be done by creating stimulating learning environment through the provision of adequately equipped computer laboratories; award of prizes and according recognition for outstanding performance; formation of software development clubs in schools as networking for the exchange of ideas and knowledge; organizing more software competitions in schools.

“Teachers and lecturers handling programming courses should re-skill and retool regularly; they must keep abreast of development in the area” he noted.

Speaking further, he was optimistic that Nigeria as a nation can assume a global identity by being an outsourcing destination. In order to participate in the on-going e-revolution, Nigeria, according to him has to be a notable player in the software industry. For this to happen, he advised that the following measures must be taken:

Government should create enabling environment through the provision of reliable and affordable infrastructure – electricity, network and communications, security, software testing facility etc; a model for achieving this is through the creation of IT parks / zones.

lGovernment should provide fiscal incentives for indigenous software developers in form of tax incentives and tariff rebates.

lThe Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks should create a special fund to assist start-up businesses as well as sustain and grow existing developers.

lThe indigenous software industry should be protected; this can be done through enactment of a law that mandates Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to patronise indigenous software as the first choice.

lThe private sector should collaborate with government to build critical mass of IT professionals for the software industry.

The new world order, he said envisages a global society where processes and activities are performed seamlessly with the enabling power of information technology.

“ As a nation, it is obvious we need to do more than we are doing; many areas of our public sector, in particular, need to be computerised – schools, hospitals, airports, ministries, parastatals etc. All around us, we can see glaring evidence of inadequate, ineffective, and non deployment of IT. It is my considered opinion that a systematic and sustained implementation of the revised National IT Policy and the ICT4D documents could change this situation.

“Increased level of computerization and deployment of IT is a sure way of motivating the indigenous software industry,” he added.

Uwadia in his inaugural lecture last week at the University of Lagos had told the gathering a national policy on Software Development should be developed and implemented.

“The Policy is to be derived from the National IT Policy framework. This has become a strategic imperative for nation building, development and creation of wealth.