Stakeholders in Nigeria's information communications technology (ICT) sector are optimistic that local content guidelines could boost the growth of the domestic ICT market.
ICT Minister, Omobola Johnson, earlier this week unveiled a set of ICT guidelines, geared at increasing the scale and scope of the domestic technology market and facilitate its growth.
The guidelines target 50% local content in Nigeria’s ICT industry, which government says could
contribute meaningfully towards the achievement of national development targets.
And stakeholders have welcomed the guidelines, expressing confidence that they could stimulate and increase the production, sales, and consumption of high quality information technology products and services.
“This is what we have been clamoring for in this past years. This sector is facing unfair competition from foreign contents and we have often said that if the trend continues, our local players will be out of business very soon,” said Ekwere Okon, chief executive officer of local ICT firm Infosystem.
"No doubt, these news guidelines are a step in the right direction and we sincerely appreciate what the ICT Ministry has done,” said Okon.
Ekwere noted that if the guidelines were followed firmly, the indigenous ICT market could record significant development.
Lagos-based ICT products manufacturer, Davies Onuah, said the guidelines are long overdue.
“I must say once again, that the ICT Minister has shown her commitment to developing the local ICT industry. The guidelines released by her Ministry are testimony to that and we hope all stakeholders will follow the guidelines,” he said.
Onuah; however, urged the ministry to take further steps to translate the guidelines into policy and law so they could be enforceable.
“The guidelines are a welcome development but we expect the minister to take further steps to include some of those guidelines into enforceable policy and laws.
"That is the surest way that every stakeholder would abide by it,” he said.
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