By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Bureau Chief, South West
Technology and innovation enthusiasts and experts have, again, reiterated that promotion of indigenous software, will redeem the country as it struggles to turn its economic fortune around. Speaking during the recent Digital Agenda Forum 2023, in Lagos, eminent personalities in Nigeria’s innovation and technology space, made this case in different ways.
President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria( ISPON), and Group Managing Director of FinTrak Software Bimbo Abioye, in his compelling address titled: Understanding The Strategic Role of Software in Emerging Technologies and National Development, highlighted the crucial significance of embracing indigenous software for fostering national growth and economic stability.
Addressing a diverse audience of distinguished guests, Mr. Abioye emphasized the pressing need for Nigeria to pivot towards patronizing indigenous goods and services. He pointed out the detrimental impact of the country’s reliance on foreign products, underscoring the resultant increase in unemployment rates and the stifling of domestic economic growth.
“The ‘Japa’ syndrome continues to exacerbate the issue,” remarked Abioye, urging a shift towards supporting locally developed software as a means to generate employment for the country’s youth. Citing the potential of the software industry to employ millions, he highlighted the disparity between Nigeria and other countries, especially like India, where technology firms have propelled significant employment opportunities.
Drawing parallels to India’s success in leveraging software for national growth, Abioye stressed the transformative potential of indigenous software across sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance and underscored the need for collaborative efforts among government, industries, and academia to create an environment conducive to the growth of the local software industry.
Joining the discussion, founder of Innovationbed, Amos Emmanuel spoke on the urgent need for inclusive governance and the bridging of developmental gaps. He highlighted Innovationbed’s role in establishing a tech-driven innovation ecosystem focused on addressing socioeconomic disparities and fostering home-grown innovation in Nigeria.
Mr. Emmanuel explained that Innovationbed.Africa emerged as a key initiative driving innovation capacity development among the youth, governments, and institutions, aiming to construct a fairer, sustainable, and inclusive digital society crucial for the development of developing countries.
The programme, he said, underscored the urgent need for collective action and innovation across eight core economic sectors while emphasizing the involvement of every individual and innovator to fuel Nigeria’s national development.
In the wake of these discussions, Managing Consultant, TechTV, convener of the Digital Agenda Forum, Don Pedro Aganbi, noted the imperative to embrace indigenous software as a driver of national development had become increasingly evident.
He argued that the call to action resonated strongly – to support, promote, and invest in home-grown software solutions, heralding a technologically-empowered future for Nigeria.
