By Emeka Aginam

To save the nation’s locally developed software applications from total collapse, the institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, (ISPON) has called on the Federal Government to establish as matter of urgency a National Software Innovative Fund with a start-up sum of N5 billion.

ISPON President, Chris Uwaje while listing many factors including technophobia mindset of the nation, and poor patronage as major barriers to software development in Nigeria noted that NSIF if established can retool made in Nigeria software product for global markets.

Uwaje made the presentation when ISPON visited the Ministry of Communications & Technology and told the Minister that the national software innovation fund is something whose time has come. He assertd that unless NSIF was created, Nigeria’s struggle to attain vision 20-2020 imperative may be derailed.

Accordingly, other barriers and challenges to the development of Nigerian software industry, according to him are not limited to the following: Lack of skills, lack of infrastructure, lack of effective local demand, Strength of competition, lack of incentives to developers and venture capitalists, lack of industry data and market information

According to him, software industry represents the new economy. “Software is responsible for the curious construct of socio-cultural and economic factors that is distinguished for its ever-changing trends, directions, economic cycles and demographics” he added.

In her response, the Hon. Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson commended ISPON for their resilience and dogged determination to forge on as champions of the Nigerian software profession and industry inspite of many odds and daunting business environment.

The Minister assured ISPON that their recourses will be required to add value to the National ICT Advisory Committee already set up, and tasked ISPON to come up with a position paper and framework for the Implementation of the Ministry’s agenda on national software development.