BY Emeka Aginam

President of the Nigerian Computer Society, Sir. Demola Aladekomo has disclosed plans by the umbrella IT body to build a multi- million IT Park in Lagos while seeking regulatory approval from the Lagos state government.

Location:
To be located at the free trade zone of Lekki, the NCS President who spoke recently during President’s breakfast meeting with IT personalities said that the IT Park would be built in phases, adding that the first phase would cost about N500M approximately.

Funding:
“The N500M will be part funded by NCS and the subscribers who are NCS members. We believe that in 5years, the IT Park should have been fully built up and businesses in top gear there.

“There are expected challenges in such a big infrastructure project. Challenges are meant to be overcome. The usual ones are Power, Water, Regulatory approvals etc. We shall overcome them. Am sure NCS is poised towards a making a success of this venture.

From left: Mr. Aniekan Etiebet, MD/CEO, Data Sciences Nigeria; Alhaji Ladi Ogunneye, Provost, NCS College of Fellows; Dr Adeola Ilechukwu, Second Vice President, NCS; Sir Demola Aladekomo, President, NCS, and Mr Sam Juwe, First Vice President, NCS at the recent NCS breakfast meeting with IT personalities, in Lagos.

Approval:
“NCS just got approval to acquire ten hectares of land around the free trade zone of Lekki, along the Lekki Epe road, Lagos. The Zone is the new Lagos. LSG is also planning to build a new seaport and airport in this area, making it a good site in the future for industries.

The plan is to use land for an IT park that will accommodate IT related industries. The land is divided into industrial plots of 1000 square metters for interested corporate members of the society. NCS will provide basic infrastructure to support companies in the park. There will be managed services of power, water, roads and greenery.

“We believe NCS will facilitate the approval from the state government. May be slow but we trust the LASG BR Fashola to support us.It will be the IT hub of the State” he explained.

While seeking the support of government and bank for the capacity building initiative, NCS President who is passionate about youths employment through ICT said that it is imperative to have venture capitals if the ICT sector must develop to meet up global markets.

Infrastructure:
Concerning infrastructure, he explained that infrastructure providers could also get easy access because there would be a wide but similar demand for a particular infrastructure or a set of infrastructure. “Operators need a lot of bandwidth, power, water, hotel facility, and that is what we are trying to do. It is going to be a national one, but it is a private initiative by NCS.

“ It is like we are starting from Lagos. The same can also be created in some other states. We are only taking the bull by the horn. There is no way you can manufacture everything in Lagos.”

He explained that the IT park, which infrastructural process should start this year, would boost local content in the IT industry and save the country foreign exchange, he noted.

“It will limit foreign control of our economy. We want to create jobs; how do we do that when we are missing out? We missed out in the telecoms revolution and we are gradually missing out in the cashless policy.