By Emeka Aginam
As Dr Jimson Olufuye bows out as the President of  the  Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN) by end of this month at its annual general meeting slated in Abuja, after four years of meritorious service to the country’s IT industry, the search for a new president would have begun.

It would be recalled that Dr Olufuye took over leadership of ITAN in 2007 from Mr Will Anyagbunam,  the Chief Executive Officer  of  Beta Computers Ltd, one of the approved local PCs assemblers by the federal government.

ITAN was established in 1991 as Microcomputer Vendors Association of Nigeria (MiVAN) following visionary initiative of Mr Tayo Adeniyi, MD Worldwide Computers Ltd. In 1995, it transmuted into Computer Vendors Association of Nigeria (CoVAN). Finally in 2000 following the dynamics of its membership base and the industry trends, it further transformed into what is now the Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN).

In 2002, following industry pressures and advocacy by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ITAN joined other stakeholders to form what is now the society of IT professionals in Nigeria, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). ITAN’s first President was Mr Yinka Edu of A-Z Computers Ltd. In 1995, Mr Davis Mirilla of Falcon Computers Ltd succeeded him.

In 1999, Chris Uwaje, who pioneered the IT policy blueprint took over. He  bowed out in 2003, and was succeeded by Mr Will Anaegbunan of Beta Computers Ltd. On March 29, 2007, Dr Jimson Olufuye was elected the President of the Association.

ITAN joined other stakeholders to form the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) a professional organisation for all IT professionals in Nigeria. ITAN is Nigeria’s representative at the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA).