Local Nigerian computer manufacturers may tackle ministry
Jonah Iboma
Local manufacturers have complained over the implementation of government’s policy to equip Nigerian schools with information technology tools.
To this end, local manufacturers are about to tackle the Ministry of Science and Technology over a recent pact signed with Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft under the New Partnership to Africa’s Development, for equip secondary and primary schools in Africa with computers.
The local manufacturers are particularly angry that the NEPAD agreement seemed to be defeating that purpose of greater IT penetration
“We are going to take up the matter with National Information Technology Development Agency,” quipped a Chief Executive of one of the local PC firms.
NITDA, is the unit of the ministry tasked with developing the local IT industry.
The Federal Government had on Thursday, March 30, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NEPAD’s e-Africa Commission and private sector players led by Hewlett Packard.
The NEPAD e-Schools Initiative is an ambitious project in conjunction with African Union, to equip 600,000 secondary and primary schools in the continent with digital capacity.
While the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isuon signed the MOU on behalf of the Federal Government, Kinyanjui signed for NEPAD.
Managing Director, HP West Africa, Mr. Lloyd Atabansi, signed on behalf of HP, while the Business Development Manager, Public Sector, Mr. Okey Ikpe, signed for Microsoft.
But the implementation of the pact is expected to face some opposition as there is government provision for local computer brands to be given first consideration for government IT projects.
Besides, many state governments are already working with local manufacturers to facilitate the delivery of IT products.
At the signing ceremony last year, Programme Commissioner/Coordinator, Human Development, NEPAD e-Schools Initiative, Prof. Peter Kinyanjui, said the programme targets to make all secondary school leavers in the continent in five years.
On the other hand, it aims to make all primary schools graduates in the continent to literate a 10 years.
Six schools from each of the 16 countries, including Nigeria, that have signed the African Peer Review Mechanism, have been selected for the pilot scheme.
Apart from HP, other lead partners that have signed to provide technology solutions for the programme include Oracle, Microsoft, AMP and Cisco Systems, among others.
Local manufacturers have complained over the implementation of government’s policy to equip Nigerian schools with information technology tools.
To this end, local manufacturers are about to tackle the Ministry of Science and Technology over a recent pact signed with Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft under the New Partnership to Africa’s Development, for equip secondary and primary schools in Africa with computers.
The local manufacturers are particularly angry that the NEPAD agreement seemed to be defeating that purpose of greater IT penetration
“We are going to take up the matter with National Information Technology Development Agency,” quipped a Chief Executive of one of the local PC firms.
NITDA, is the unit of the ministry tasked with developing the local IT industry.
The Federal Government had on Thursday, March 30, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NEPAD’s e-Africa Commission and private sector players led by Hewlett Packard.
The NEPAD e-Schools Initiative is an ambitious project in conjunction with African Union, to equip 600,000 secondary and primary schools in the continent with digital capacity.
While the Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isuon signed the MOU on behalf of the Federal Government, Kinyanjui signed for NEPAD.
Managing Director, HP West Africa, Mr. Lloyd Atabansi, signed on behalf of HP, while the Business Development Manager, Public Sector, Mr. Okey Ikpe, signed for Microsoft.
But the implementation of the pact is expected to face some opposition as there is government provision for local computer brands to be given first consideration for government IT projects.
Besides, many state governments are already working with local manufacturers to facilitate the delivery of IT products.
At the signing ceremony last year, Programme Commissioner/Coordinator, Human Development, NEPAD e-Schools Initiative, Prof. Peter Kinyanjui, said the programme targets to make all secondary school leavers in the continent in five years.
On the other hand, it aims to make all primary schools graduates in the continent to literate a 10 years.
Six schools from each of the 16 countries, including Nigeria, that have signed the African Peer Review Mechanism, have been selected for the pilot scheme.
Apart from HP, other lead partners that have signed to provide technology solutions for the programme include Oracle, Microsoft, AMP and Cisco Systems, among others.
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