by emeka aginam

While Original Equipment Manufacturers, (OEMs) jostle for the students PC ownership scheme to be rolled out October this financial year by the present administration, the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Brian Integrated Systems, Mr. Tunji Balogun has assured that his company has the capacity to partner with the government and schools on scheme expected to put PCs in the hands of Nigerian students.

Unfolding the company’s plans for the student’s PC ownership scheme to the Minister of Communication Technology. Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Balogun noted that Brian Computers which is one of the local PC assemblers in the country would increase production for the capacity building project that has been hailed by the IT industry.

The Minister after facility tour of the company however commended the motorized conveyor driven assembling plant of Brian Computers that has not less than 200 production capacity per day.

The Minister who also toured the computer Village market also disclosed that the students PC ownership scheme when fully implemented will not only put PCs in the hands of the students but will also create thousands of jobs in the country for lot of Nigerians that will be involved in the manufacture of the these computers.

The scheme, the Minister said is expected to make personal computers available to students of tertiary institutions at affordable prices with the payment done in such a way that students may pay as little as N3, 000 every month over up to 24 months to own a laptop.

“ We want to put PC in the hands of the Nigerian students. We will  work with the banks. We will work out the payment structure so that no student runs away without adequate payment for the PC. We cannot continue to be consumers of foreign products. With the student population, we will create demand for our local manufacturer’s with a level playing ground and healthy competition among the local PC assemblers”she added.

She restated the present administration commitment to local device penetration among Nigerians but lamented that only 10% PCs in use were locally manufactured.

She further said that with broadband roadmap of the government, more devices will be pushed into the market through this scheme so that local brands can create jobs for Nigerians.

Earlier in his response,  Balogun assured the Minister that Brian Integrated Systems promoted by Balog Technologies would increase capacity so as to meet up with the capacity building project of the government that will put digital tools in the hands of students for  the challenges of 21st century society.

According to Balogun who is also the President of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria, (CAPDAN), We have the capacity to partner with the federal government on this laudable initiative. Our products including Brian Platinum Laptop, Brian Gold Laptop, Brian Classmate PC and Brian Platinum Desktop among others have the state-of-art-technology to support the students PC ownership scheme.

While taking the Minister round the motorized conveyor room,  Balogun further  said that the company’s PCs products have  stayed the taste of time.

“We have already partnered with many states and schools across the nation  on PC ownership scheme. We are prepared for this,” he said.