Experts seek improved local content in ICT

Indeed there is upsurge in the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in Enugu State. In fact, almost every part of the state has one cyber café or computer training centre.  There are also several outfits where components of ICT could be procured. But the upsurge notwithstanding, Enugu cannot boast of any manufacturing outfit where computer and Internet accessories can be produced locally.

In her 2016 budget estimate of over N85b, all the provisions made on the ICT were for purchase of computers and training of personnel of the various ministries and departments.  A closer look at the budget estimates indicated that these computers would be sourced from HP, DELL, SONY among others.  A further investigation showed that computers acquired before now for some of her agencies came from these companies. There was no indication however from the budget that government was thinking about investing in the ICT sector, to enable it manufacture any of the components.

It is being felt that this is the missing link in the drive for development and growth, even as government pursues policies that could enable it diversify resources for increased revenues.

An ICT Specialist at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), who spoke to The Guardian explained that ICT holds the future for any country, stressing that it was one area government should diversify to boost revenue and depend less on oil.

“There was a time former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave the directive for Nigerians, especially government agencies to patronise ICT with local content. To some of us in the sector then, we felt that Nigeria’s economic explosion had begun, as it would have encouraged local production in the ICT sector.  But you discover that the directive went with the president. I do know that our people are researching in major areas, but this is one sector that has continued to deplete our reserves because, everything now is ICT. You must replace and procure it to move with the rest of the world. So, I think we have to find ways to inject local content to it,” he said.

Mr. Ezenwugo Chiedozie Obiora, a Computer Specialist and Branch Manager of AfriHUB International ICT Resource Centre, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu lent credence to the position espoused. He stated that although some components of ICT, like the system itself and semiconductors are manufactured with silicon, which is in abundance in Nigeria, the much Nigerians have done was to export the commodity and in return buy its byproducts.

“We have not really made any breakthrough in the area of local content for the ICT as it is today, but I know with time, we shall come up with components that are locally manufactured for the sector.  This is because, if you get the computer system, it is made up of several parts and you get them from different manufacturers. None of them is manufactured here in Nigeria as of date.  I think the way and manner in which the ICT has been embraced; there is need for us to begin to look inwards to develop our own homegrown software,” he said

On how the components are sourced, presently, he stated the manufacturing companies provide them. “We don’t manufacture and no Nigerian company is into manufacturing of ICT components at the moment. What we do is that we are in partnership with some of the giants in the ICT manufacturing like the HP. We buy direct from them, we use their products and because we are in partnership with them, you can get any number you want from them. There is the hardware and software. So, when the components are not there, we also request the components from them.”

On how AfriHUB has impacted on the sector, he explained: “We have several centers all over the country. What we do basically in institutions we find ourselves is capacity building. This is our core competence. We discovered that most students couldn’t operate the system, do the basic thing on ICT, and get things done on their courses of study.

“When we came in into several institutions, every student must undergo basic ICT training. When they come for the training, we ensure that we teach them the basic knowledge, which will enable them know the basic information. The basic ICT knowledge is to get into the Internet, type some documents, simple calculation and make a presentation anywhere. We teach them the basic ICT skills and with that they can move to other professional ICT courses.”