By Emeka Aginam

For neglecting local efforts in the Nigerian software market, experts in the Nigerian IT sector have expressed worry over non adoption of indigenous software by both private and public sectors , asking the Presidency to present a bill to adopt the use of indigenous software as strategic imperative for national development, security and survivability.

President ITAN, Dr Jimson Olufuye, President, Nigeria Computer Society, Professor Charles Uwadia, and President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr Chris Uwaje

Meanwhile, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Board had set up a committee to formulate and draft a National Software Policy. When this is done and passed into law, compliance by government ministries and departments, according to keen observers would be realized.

Although the Presidency had recently redirected government ministries and departments to begin to patronize local efforts including hardware and software, the draft on National Software Policy, it would be recalled is still being awaited.

Leading the push for the passage of bill on indigenous software is the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON who has called on the Presidency to promote and present a bill for adoption of use of indigenous software in both private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The President of ISPON Chris Uwaje while reacting to the recent directive by the presidency on the patronage of made-in-Nigeria products noted without mincing words that it is not enough to raise a ministerial circular telling users in both Public and Private sector users to buy indigenous Software

“NO! The right thing to do is for the Presidency to promote and present a Bill for an ACT to – with immediate effect adopt the use of indigenous software as strategic imperative for national development, security and survivability. No half measure will deliver the required solution. strategic imperative for national development, security and survivability” Uwaje who has been preaching local capacities told Vanguard in an e-mail last week.”

Challenging the present administration to create enabling environment for local capacity, Uwaje noted that the key benefit of a vibrant software industry was in producing more knowledgeable and better skilled human capital for nation building.

“With youth population of about 43.2%, Nigeria possesses an immense advantage and capacity to engage the emerging knowledge information society and succeed economically, provided the right professional framework and incentives for encouraging best practices and quality standards” Uwaje said.

For the President of the Nigerian Computer Society, (NCS) Prof. Charles Uwadia, this bill / policy is long overdue.

“At this stage of our national development, it is only wise that we should protect our indigenous software industry; this will serve as motivation and incentive for would be developers. The gestation period of software development is such that only a ready market will make it encouraging and attractive for developers and investors. This call will not in any way detract from insistence that indigenous software should conform to global quality and standards,” Uwadia said in an e-mail last week..

In his inaugural lecture last week at the University of Lagos, Professor Uwadia told his audience that 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.