DG, NITDA, Cleopas Angaye
By Amaka Eze
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Prof. Cleopas Angaye, has said the national software policy being developed by the Federal Government will help in making the economy knowledge-driven rather one that is based on revenue from oil alone.
Angaye who stated this at the just-concluded national software conference and competition organised by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), noted that the national software policy is expected to guide the deployment of local software.
“We have tried some initiatives in enhancing the software industry in Nigeria, such as the national software development initiative, national software development taskforce and the national information technology (IT) policy. Despite these, we have not been able to adequately explore the full potentials of the industry in a way to make Software Nigeria a major player in the global industry,” he said.
Angaye reiterated that the software industry had no doubt become a thing of utmost importance to future competitiveness for economies across the globe especially with its halo effect in creating business opportunities.
According to him, Nigeria had not been able to adequately explore the full potentials of the industry in a way to make her software, major player in the global market.
The software industry, he said, was important to future competitiveness across the globe especially with its effect in creating related business opportunities, adding that the critical role of software could not be over emphasised.
Angaye noted that IT assisted in developing globally competitive human capital as it played a key role especially in the areas of teaching aids, research, online education and with opportunity and additional skills that would allow them to secure employment and provides information available job opportunities.
“The role of our youths and students in IT and in particular software development as a major in economic growth and development is very obvious across the globe. The positive implication of this new trend is that job opportunities abound for citizens of countries like Nigeria where unemployment rate very high.
“Through IT, Nigerian youths can be exposed to borderless opportunities, global competitiveness and create wealth for themselves and nation as whole” he said.
Angaye stressed that there was an urgent need for all stakeholders in the IT industry to come together and contribute meaningfully to empowering youths in becoming major players in the global IT market.