Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: La Nigeria punta sull'informatica

Nigeria's Software Initiative
http://allafrica.com/stories/200502230117.html
EDITORIAL
February 23, 2005
Posted to the web February 23, 2005
Lagos
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo's government has once again demonstrated
commitment to the development of science and technology. Recently, it
set up a multi-sectoral committee to work out modalities for the
cultivation of the nation's software industry currently valued at N15
billion.
This was sequel to the formal launch of the Nigerian Software
Development Initiative (NSDI) and the brand name "Software Nigeria" -
two ambitious programmes aimed at leveraging software development in
Nigeria from its subsistence level to a major foreign exchange earner.
This is not the first time this administration has shown implicit
commitment to technology development. In the past three years, it had
at various times directed all ministries and parastatals to patronise
locally assembled computers which have been adjudged to be of
international standard.
Again, to its credit, the government has also launched a satellite and
is currently at the threshold of launching another, this time a
communications satellite. These are commendable initiatives which
portray this government as not only in tune with contemporary trends in
technology but also futuristic.
With such pedigree and enthusiasm in local technology development, it
is not surprising that government would bring the same zeal to bear on
software development as is currently being pursued through a
public-private sector partnership.
This is even more so given the key role of software development in the
emerging global knowledge-based economy. Global economy is increasingly
being driven by knowledge. And at the core of this knowledge is
software development with a global market estimated at over $260
billion.
Some developing nations namely South Africa, India and even Kenya have
vigorously pursued the policy of backward integration in software
development, realising the great potentials in the sector.
What Nigeria is about to start was mooted by India as far back as 1976.
The initiative culminated in the building of the electronic city in
Bangalore, housing software parks and allied shops. Today, India has
become a major player in the global Information Communications
Technology (ICT) market.
Last year alone, India earned $18.5 billion in ICT export, up from $15
billion in 2003. In both cases, software accounted for about 55 per
cent. The reverse has been the case in Nigeria. Last year, total
software import to Nigeria stood at an estimated $980 million which
multi-sectoral industry players maintain is a stupendous waste of
foreign exchange.
Chairman of the NSDI, Jim Ovia, said a study undertaken by his team
showed that software has the potential for being the single largest
contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country in the
next five years if properly harnessed.
There is indeed no gainsaying this. Already, some made-in-Nigeria
software are successfully being deployed not only in Nigeria but in
other overseas countries namely South Africa, Mexico and Zimbabwe.
Going by its antecedent in the area of local technology development, it
is expected that government would earnestly provide a sound template
for the take off of the project. The challenge here is for the private
sector to take full advantage of this and churn out industry standard
software that would not only meet local needs but would also compete
favourably in the global market.
We are not ignorant of the fact that there are other private sector
initiatives geared towards software development. The Jim Ovia committee
should liaise with these private operators to see how their various
efforts could fit into the big picture.
The federal government has already granted the request of the NSDI to
use part of the old federal secretariat at Ikoyi, Lagos for the setting
up of a pioneer software park. This is good only in its sense of
urgency. We, however, advise that a befitting permanent site that would
take cognisance of parameters like proximity to the market and more
importantly ergonomy, would be procured and developed as soon as
possible.
We particularly welcome the initiative because of its many inherent
benefits. Aside providing jobs for Nigerians, it would also enhance
national security as certain sensitive software especially for the
nation's security and intelligence units would no longer be outsourced
to foreign firms.
Besides, it would help arrest capital flight both in terms of software
procurement and in training of personnel. It would also boost computer
sales and usage as well as create economies of scale by triggering the
emergence of diverse software support services across the nation.
These and many other reasons are why this initiative should elicit
unwavering public-private sector support. It holds the key to a better
Nigeria, no doubt.


Se uno non è mai stato in Nigeria può anche crederci, altrimenti riesce
difficile
La haine
--------------------------------
Inviato via 
http://arianna.libero.it/usenet/

 
http://allafrica.com/stories/200502230117.html
Buon per loro. Speriamo che usino software libero, e che PRODUCANO
software libero, però... Chissà che se arrivano abbastanza contendenti,
qualcuno dalle nostre parti non si dia una mossa per potenziare, ma
soprattutto razionalizzare, il settore.
Raffaele
-- 
Raffaele Castagno
Mail me if you want a GMAIL account.
Not only bad news: 
http://www.goodnewsiraq.com
Iraq Linux User Group : 
http://www.iraqilinux.org
Strategic Blog: 
http://strategic-game.blogspot.com/
Strategic Sourceforge Homepage: 
http://strategic.sourceforge.net/
Strategic Sourceforge Project: 
http://sourceforge.net/projects/strategic/
questo articolo e` stato inviato via web dal servizio gratuito 
http://www.newsland.it/news
 segnala gli abusi ad 
ab...@newsland.it