Mr Seye Oloruntoba, the Anti-piracy Manager in Microsoft Nigeria, has decried the high level of software piracy in the country. Oloruntoba said in Lagos that the high level of software piracy could hinder job opportunities and stifle innovation in the country.

He said that pirated software could also be harmful to individuals and companies using them for businesses. “Piracy could hamper the growth of software development in Nigeria. It could hinder job creation for students, developers and IT professionals.

“This has necessitated the need to educate consumers on the risks associated with using pirated copies. We also support efforts by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in eliminating piracy,” he said.

Oloruntoba said that piracy had become a global issue as other countries had observed its menace. He said his company had embarked on enlightenment campaigns to educate users on ways to identify fake software products in the market. “We educate consumers, businesses and governments that the use of fake software is not only dangerous to the individual, but also to the economy,” he said.