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After years of delay, the Federal Government last month assented to a bill giving legal backing to the National Information Technology Development Agency. JONAH IBOMA examines the implication of this in Nigeria’s quest for IT development . Information Technology is recognised globally as a means of ensuring quick development in the developing world. This is exemplified by the achievements of India, China where expertise in software and hardware aspects of IT brought about economic boom. In recognition of this, Nigeria established a unit in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to oversee the process of implementation of a blueprint on IT growth in Nigeria. The unit was founded in April 2001 and named the National Information Technology Development Agency with the late Prof. Gabriel Ajayi, as pioneer director general. Government had earlier gathered some IT experts who developed an IT Policy for the country. Part of the objectives of NITDA were to ensure the implementation of t...

Jonah Iboma Information Technology solutions firm, Cisco and Redington said they have entered an alliance tom open up the Nigerian resellers’ market estimated to be worth over N100billion. The firms said on Tuesday that the nveiling of the alliance recently in Lagos signals the beginning of a new journey for resellers in Nigeria. Cisco, world leaders in networking for the internet, and Redington, the leading distributor in the Middle East and Africa Regions, signed the agreement in Lagos. With this, Redington will be availing the IT sector its immense skill, experience and market support programmes to radically transform the way solutions are delivered to the customer, increasing the value add to products and services. These market support programmes are essential in a rapidly growing market, where skills and other incentives are not widely spread, says Maduka Emelife, Managing Director of Cisco Nigeria. “Cisco has gone from an IT to a human company. This change opens up a lot of oppor...

Jonah Iboma BRIAN Integrated Systems Limited, promoted by Balog Technologies Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Osun state government to supply all the computer requirement of the state’s civil servants under the Federal Governments Computer Public-Private initiative, Computer for All Nigerians Initiative. The event, which held at the Bola Ige Governor Office complex in Osogbo, was chaired by state’s Head of Service, Elder Segun Akinwusi representing the state governor, and was well attended by all Permanent Secretaries of various ministries. Speaking after the ceremony, Managing Director of BRIAN, Mr. Tunji Balogun, said, “Today’s MOU signing with Osun state government is a testimonial of value we place on quality computer assembly. This is particularly so with the IT consciousness and appreciation of this state that has taken the lead in investing heavily in the best Information Technology Highway in the country. We are therefore very proud on this partnership wit...

A bill establishing the Nigerian National Information Technology Development Agency has been signed into law by the President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. Called the National Information and Technology Development Act 2007, the law empowers the agency to oversee the development of IT in Nigeria. The Director General of NITDA, Prof. Cleopas Angaye, who confirmed this development in a conversation with our correspondent on Monday said the development represented a major milestone in the country’s quest towards developing IT in the country. According to him, the bill gives legal recognition to NITDA, which was created as unit of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology since 2001, but had been operating without an enabling law, thereby limiting its effectiveness. The lack of legal backing for NITDA has been identified as the one of the major reasons for the inadequate funding of the agency and the subsequent limited effectiveness it had showed in the IT industry in Nigeria. Beside...