Written by Adeyemi Adepetun
THE Federal Government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to support the growth of technology, especially startup innovations in Nigeria with N1.5 billion.
NITDA said while the N1.5 billion will be the initial capital outlay, it also hoped to get angel investors for young innovators in the country.
According to NITDA’s Director-General, Peter Jack, who disclosed this, the Federal Government is very keen in driving increased investment to the country’s
ICT sector with focus to be directed on how foreign investors can support indigenous companies and local innovations.
Jack said is also hopeful of removing difficulties attached to doing business in Nigeria.
The NITDA DG, who spoke at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, yesterday, stressed that the determination of the country to achieve maximum growth in the ICT sector is a must, “because technology is the life wire of any economy.”
According to Jack, “As part of the drive, Nigeria, which is the official country partner, will today hold an Investment Forum to further highlight the investment potential of the nation’s ICT industry.
“This year, Nigeria hopes to further leverage on the global exposure presented by the GITEX to spotlight its local software industry and other sub IT sectors and that is why we have occupied the centre of activities at the five day event as GITEX Official Country Partner.
“Specifically, we would be having the ‘Nigeria Investment Forum’ which is a major event that we have planned to attract global IT investment into the country. Outcome of this event will, no doubt, has far-reaching positive impact on the investment inflow into the country in the coming years to boost our current FDIs of $32 billion.”
Jack also explained other socioeconomic benefits to Nigeria as being official partner to technology show.
According to him, “Being a GITEX Official Country Partner would, among others, enable Nigeria to increase its brand presence on a global scale where more than 140,000 trade visitors will understand what Nigeria have to offer.”
“It will also help in breaking down the perception of the risks associated with working in Nigeria’s flourishing but often misrepresented technology sector.”
Through the Investment forum, Jack said, “Africa’s most populated country of over 170 million could also win the interests of investors for its various in-country projects to increase its FDI; and open up channels of dialogue between NITDA and other similar government bodies from Africa, Europe and the Middle East.”
Meanwhile, as the country’s agency responsible for ICT policy formulation and implementation under the Ministry of Communication Technology, Jack said NITDA was committed towards ensuring that ICT contribution to Nigeria’s GDP increases to 15 per cent within three years.
Jack stated that NITDA has a national ICT Strategic plan with a time line of 2010-2015, whose implementation will help in advancing the auspicious target.
He said the implementation of the plan in sectors such as education, agriculture, health, human capital development, governance, judiciary and national security, has propelled the level of development in the ICT sector in Nigeria.
He added that the impact of the plan and its implementation will be measured and reviewed by next year.
“The vision of the national broadband plan is for Nigeria to be one of a society of connected communities with high speed Internet and broadband access that facilitates faster socio-economic advancement of the nation and its people,” he said.
THE Federal Government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to support the growth of technology, especially startup innovations in Nigeria with N1.5 billion.
NITDA said while the N1.5 billion will be the initial capital outlay, it also hoped to get angel investors for young innovators in the country.
According to NITDA’s Director-General, Peter Jack, who disclosed this, the Federal Government is very keen in driving increased investment to the country’s
Jack said is also hopeful of removing difficulties attached to doing business in Nigeria.
The NITDA DG, who spoke at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, yesterday, stressed that the determination of the country to achieve maximum growth in the ICT sector is a must, “because technology is the life wire of any economy.”
According to Jack, “As part of the drive, Nigeria, which is the official country partner, will today hold an Investment Forum to further highlight the investment potential of the nation’s ICT industry.
“This year, Nigeria hopes to further leverage on the global exposure presented by the GITEX to spotlight its local software industry and other sub IT sectors and that is why we have occupied the centre of activities at the five day event as GITEX Official Country Partner.
“Specifically, we would be having the ‘Nigeria Investment Forum’ which is a major event that we have planned to attract global IT investment into the country. Outcome of this event will, no doubt, has far-reaching positive impact on the investment inflow into the country in the coming years to boost our current FDIs of $32 billion.”
Jack also explained other socioeconomic benefits to Nigeria as being official partner to technology show.
According to him, “Being a GITEX Official Country Partner would, among others, enable Nigeria to increase its brand presence on a global scale where more than 140,000 trade visitors will understand what Nigeria have to offer.”
“It will also help in breaking down the perception of the risks associated with working in Nigeria’s flourishing but often misrepresented technology sector.”
Through the Investment forum, Jack said, “Africa’s most populated country of over 170 million could also win the interests of investors for its various in-country projects to increase its FDI; and open up channels of dialogue between NITDA and other similar government bodies from Africa, Europe and the Middle East.”
Meanwhile, as the country’s agency responsible for ICT policy formulation and implementation under the Ministry of Communication Technology, Jack said NITDA was committed towards ensuring that ICT contribution to Nigeria’s GDP increases to 15 per cent within three years.
Jack stated that NITDA has a national ICT Strategic plan with a time line of 2010-2015, whose implementation will help in advancing the auspicious target.
He said the implementation of the plan in sectors such as education, agriculture, health, human capital development, governance, judiciary and national security, has propelled the level of development in the ICT sector in Nigeria.
He added that the impact of the plan and its implementation will be measured and reviewed by next year.
“The vision of the national broadband plan is for Nigeria to be one of a society of connected communities with high speed Internet and broadband access that facilitates faster socio-economic advancement of the nation and its people,” he said.
Culled from http://ngrguardiannews.com
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