FG urged to implement local content policy in ICT industry

Federal government has been advised to ensure full implementation of the local content policy in the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to achieve its yearning for a knowledge-based economy. The Managing Director, Omatek Ventures, Mrs Florence Seriki gave the advice in Lagos when the Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu made a working visit […]

Federal government has been advised to ensure full implementation of the local content policy in the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to achieve its yearning for a knowledge-based economy.
The Managing Director, Omatek Ventures, Mrs Florence Seriki gave the advice in Lagos when the Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu made a working visit to the company.
She said technology is a key alternative in diversifying the nation’s economy which can help the federal government to amass wealth and reduce unemployment.
She stressed the need for government to focus on the technology sector even as much ado is given to a diversified economy in Nigeria.
She urged the present administration to adopt the road map of former president Olusegun Obasanjo who created Public Private Patnership (PPP) in the ICT sector which growned indigenous IT firms.
Seriki opined that Nigeria can be a manufacturer in the ICT global village and do away with foreign brands.
She explained that with IT, there are rooms for job creation and that solar is the solution to interrupted power supply.
She further dropped the hint on the new Omatek solar tech solution to power Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of some commercial banks in the country, advising that Nigeria can use both hardware and software for revolution of wealth, industrial collaboration and local patronage.
Seriki said: “Though many ministers have come to see what we do here at Omatek government should begin to look in the direction of indigenous players in the technology industry to drive key sectors of the economy.
“But record has it that to bridge the digital gap in Nigeria, government has to look inward. And we at Omatek have demonstrated skill, capacity and innovation to be able to handle national projects as we have exemplified in various federal tertiary institutions, banks, Ministries, Department and Agencies for both federal and state governments and the Nigeria Stock Exchange(NSC), she said.
The minister who made the factory tour during the visit was pleased with effort on ground in the bid to make Nigeria a solution provider and technology source for Africa at large.
“I am pleased with what I saw. I know that Nigeria as an economy has diverse areas to generate wealth and capacity building to drive away unemployment. It is high time Nigeria began to patronise Nigeria. Omatek has the potential to serve virtually all sectors of the economy,” he said.