Nigerian vice president, Namadi Sambo, has urged top information and communications technology (ICT) companies to complement government efforts to eradicate poverty and enhance economic growth.

The appeal, made at the ‘eNigeria International Conference’ held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was directed to such international companies as Microsoft, Intel, HP, Oracle and Google.

Sambo urged them to work together with government decision makers to support government’s vision and shared conviction in leveraging local content to eradicate poverty and place the country on a path of
sustainable economic development.

He said eNigeria could provide an opportunity to improve and increase the Nigerian content in ICT in the quest to transform the country.

“The fundamental objective of Nigerian content in ICT is to translate to empowerment of indigenous entrepreneurs and spur corporate investment, advance the development of human capital, provide sustainable employment and deliver goods and services for nation building and global competitiveness,” Sambo said.

He added that since the inception of the eNigeria initiative ten years ago, considerable awareness had been created resulting in massive ICT deployment in the functioning of government organisations, education
sector as well as the private sector.

“Consequently, ICT now drives virtually all activities in the banking and oil and gas sectors.

The eNigeria International Conference has been held under the theme, “ICT Development in Nigeria: The Journey So Far.”