ATCON aims to drive Nigerian content development
By Jonah Iboma
Irked by the low level of local content in Nigeria’s booming information and communications technology industry, the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria has said that it will take steps to redress the situation.
The trade body of telecom companies in Nigeria said that as a first step towards solving the problem, it would convey a national summit that would examine the issue and set a path on local content development.
The Executive Secretary ATCON, Mr. Godwin Morgan, noted that it was regrettable that despite the high number of ICT professionals in the country, adequate attention had not been paid to the issue of developing and building local content.
He said that though attempts were being made by a few concerned professionals in the area of developing local content in both the hardware and software aspect of ICT, much still needed to be done to achieve the desired progress and position the country for global competitiveness.
He said, ”ATCON strongly believes that for Nigeria to truly boast of technological advancements in the ICT sector, concerted efforts must be geared towards initiatives that would facilitate or enhance local content development both in the software and hardware aspects of ICT.
“It is in this light that ATCON is partnering with industry operators and stakeholders in hosting this summit to examine the prospects and challenges of developing Nigerian content for our ICT industry.”
He revealed that ATCON had enlisted the participation of many public institutions and private sector organisations to ensure effective involvement of public policy makers for the summit billed for April in Lagos.
They include the Ministry of Information and Communication; Ministry of Science & Technology; National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigerian Communications Commission and Universal Service Provision Fund.
Others are ICT professional associations and firms, banks and non-bank financial institutions, local and foreign development agencies, ICT solutions providers, small and medium enterprise development agency of Nigeria, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture
He said, “Our local ICT infrastructure providers should be granted some measure of protection against their multinational counterparts, whose corporate strength and investment muscle could pose serious threats to the survival of the local players.
The local hardware and software developers must be given adequate support to enable them grow, expand and continue to provide employment to millions of Nigerians, thus helping to eradicate poverty across our land.
”We believe that the establishment of an enabling environment will encourage existing and potential local investors to venture into
Irked by the low level of local content in Nigeria’s booming information and communications technology industry, the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria has said that it will take steps to redress the situation.
The trade body of telecom companies in Nigeria said that as a first step towards solving the problem, it would convey a national summit that would examine the issue and set a path on local content development.
The Executive Secretary ATCON, Mr. Godwin Morgan, noted that it was regrettable that despite the high number of ICT professionals in the country, adequate attention had not been paid to the issue of developing and building local content.
He said that though attempts were being made by a few concerned professionals in the area of developing local content in both the hardware and software aspect of ICT, much still needed to be done to achieve the desired progress and position the country for global competitiveness.
He said, ”ATCON strongly believes that for Nigeria to truly boast of technological advancements in the ICT sector, concerted efforts must be geared towards initiatives that would facilitate or enhance local content development both in the software and hardware aspects of ICT.
“It is in this light that ATCON is partnering with industry operators and stakeholders in hosting this summit to examine the prospects and challenges of developing Nigerian content for our ICT industry.”
He revealed that ATCON had enlisted the participation of many public institutions and private sector organisations to ensure effective involvement of public policy makers for the summit billed for April in Lagos.
They include the Ministry of Information and Communication; Ministry of Science & Technology; National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigerian Communications Commission and Universal Service Provision Fund.
Others are ICT professional associations and firms, banks and non-bank financial institutions, local and foreign development agencies, ICT solutions providers, small and medium enterprise development agency of Nigeria, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture
He said, “Our local ICT infrastructure providers should be granted some measure of protection against their multinational counterparts, whose corporate strength and investment muscle could pose serious threats to the survival of the local players.
The local hardware and software developers must be given adequate support to enable them grow, expand and continue to provide employment to millions of Nigerians, thus helping to eradicate poverty across our land.
”We believe that the establishment of an enabling environment will encourage existing and potential local investors to venture into
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