Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) attended the Nigeria Software Stakeholders Forum organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) through the Office of the Nigerian Content Development in Information and Communication (ONC). The event held on Tuesday 6th February, 2018 at Four Points Hotel by Sheraton, Oniru, Lagos.
Mr. Kasim Sodangi, the National Coordinator, Nigerian Content Development in Information and Communication (ONC) stated that the objectives and importance of the session are:
- To appraise status of software development in Nigeria and what indigenous developers have done so far concerning software development in Nigeria.
- To appraise Financial Technology (FinTech) Industries and use the session as a case study for software development and emerging technologies.
- Discuss the capabilities of moving forward the software industry in Nigeria.
There were goodwill messages from key players in the software industry. Mr. Rogba Adeoye, representing the President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Mr. James Emadoye, President, Institute of Software Practitioners in Nigeria (ISPON).
Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, Director General of NITDA in his opening address, identified software development as a major part of entrepreneurship in Nigeria and as an income source for the new industry for the diversification of economy. The DG elaborated on the efforts of the Agency and promotion of indigenous IT products. The DG advised participants never to consider indigenous software inferior to the foreign software as Nigeria had been ranked among the best 50 software development countries in the world.
The Minister of Communications was ably represented by Mrs. Moni Udor, Director, ICT Federal Ministry of Communications.
Three presentations were made by Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji, National Coordinator, Office for ICT Entrepreneurship, Mr. Victor Okigbo and Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Vice President of ISPON.
There were also discussions around Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber security.