The Nation Newspaper

Category: Business

  • MDA 6: Which family wears the crown?

    Tomorrow, the best dancing family will emerge in the Maltina Dance All (MDA) family reality television show season six.

    The winning family will get a brand new car and N6 million cash, the first and second runners up will take home N1 million and N500,000.

    The MDA is sponsored by Maltina, a premium non-alcoholic malt brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc. After a rigorous and intensive competition process spanning more than a month, five families; the Efiokwu, Green, Eghove, Boyle and Zibe families qualified for the grand finale taking place at The Expo Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites.

    The race started on September 2, with 10 families in the picture; however, five families were unable to survive the various dance styles that were introduced in the MDA Academy: the “Wazobia” (contemporary Nigerian dances), Salsa, Pantomime, Gumboot, Hip-hop and Contemporary African dance styles.

    The five families that made it to this level were able to survive the six different dance styles. From the 10 families that made it to the academy, the first set to be evicted were the Ozurumba and Nwogwugwu families; they failed to convince the judges after the Wazobia and Salsa performances. The Wazobia performance had placed the Ozurumba and Nwogwugwu families for eviction while the salsa performance placed the Okasia family as the only family up for possible eviction.

    The second phase of the show was the contemporary African and Gumboot dances. After the performance, the Amilo and Onyebuagu families were put up for possible eviction. They could, however, not survive at the eviction showdown and were asked to leave the academy after gumboot performance. At the eviction show the four families came back to compete and the judges did what had never been done before in the history of Maltina Dance All as they saved two families – the Onyebuagu and Efiokwu families – and gave the audience an opportunity to vote between the Amilo and the Okasia families. The live audience voted the Okasia family back into the academy kicking the Amilo family out of the academy.

    After the second eviction show, the families were introduced to the last two dance styles which will usher them to the grand finale, the Hip-hop and Pantomime dance styles. After the hip-hop performance the Zibe and Okasia families were put up for eviction making it the third time the Okasia family was up for eviction. After the Pantomime performance, the Onyebuagu and Boyle families were placed on possible eviction making it the first time the Boyle family will fall into this category.

    The Onyebuagu and Okasia families, however, failed to convince the judges and they were evicted from the academy setting the stage for the five remaining families to compete for the grand prize.

    The families expressed their joy and promised to make it through the grand finale. Ifeoma Efiokwu, the family representative of the Efiokwu family promised to give her best and said: “being in the grand finale is a dream come true for my family and I and by the special grace of God we are going to come out with our best dance ever”.

    Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji, Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, said they undertook the journey because the brand’s story has always been the story of “sharing happiness” within the Nigerian family and beyond with emphasis on the values of friendship, trust, togetherness and faithfulness. “It is all about bringing the family together in an atmosphere of friendship and bonding with other families so that as units they can share common problems and ideas effectively throughout their time at the academy and beyond. We are very passionate about the family institution and we will do the little we can as a responsible corporate entity to ensure that the institution continues to remain relevant because a healthy and sound family system will resonate on the nation as a whole, the family unit is the bedrock of any society.”

    She stressed that Maltina is interested in equipping parents and their children that come to the academy to be relevant to the society they are moving into.

    “Our motive is to equip them effectively to confront and proffer solutions to some of the everyday challenges we face in life and for them to use what they garner in the academy to help other families in the society and what better way to do it than through dance which is a concept that transcends tribe, religion, culture and what have you. Dancing has the capacity of drawing people together.”

  • Shoprite’s shock treatment for customers

    Shoprite’s shock treatment for customers

    Since it came into the country, shoprite, the retailing giant, has assumed a household name. Everyday both the young and the old, long to visit the store to have a feel of what it is to shop there. So, at any point in time, there is a rush at the store, especially at the pay point.

    A customer, Mrs Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha, recalls her ordeal at the store last week as she was treated shabbily by some workers. “By choosing the Ikeja Shoprite, which is nearer home, I reasoned that I would be able to manage my time as the haggling, cheating, rudeness and other pranks associated with open regular markets would be circumvented. The first few weeks proved me right. But not anymore.”

    When a senior colleague, Chido Nwakama, wrote on his Facebook wall, how some of us would queue up to obtain a particular brand of bread, in fact forming a snake like lane, I knew we were on the same radar. I always pick that brand of bread and raisin bread as well, despite the queue, and my protruding tummy- a sign of my being advanced. Outside the country, that is what obtains, everybody queues up to pay at designated points.

    In addition, abroad, there are other points where customers can easily pay if their purchase is below certain amount. But at Shoprite, even if you pick a chewing gum, you have to queue with others who may have loads of purchases to pay for.

    “I was at the store last weekend. After my shopping, and as I was advancing to the pay points, I saw a tilapia and went for it. The price could buy two in the open market, but I went for it anyway because I was managing time. I asked if I could have it sliced and was directed to another point where a tool for such exists. I was told by some workers wearing blue aprons, with the inscription, ‘merchandise ’, to go to other points and I went searching for same. After about 17 minutes of roaming in the expansive cold section of the store trying to locate the optional elusive points, it dawned on me that I could have been given a ‘9ja’ answer.

    “An experience ran through my mind. During my trip to Washington D.C, this summer, I bought some edibles in one of the eateries. They got cold. I walked into another eatery and requested that my edibles be ‘micro waved’. It was done. Free of charge. It was no big deal. Such was the liberal world in the US, despite my being a dudu (black). But why won’t such treatment be obtained in my own country.

    I went looking for the office where I can state my grievances. It’s by choice that I chose Shoprite. What I intended obtaining exists in the open market and sellers would not only cut to satisfaction but would remove the scale and possibly clean up the fish.

    “I located the office behind the pay point. A woman attended to me. After hearing me out, she apologised and explained that actually the tool that could process my request broke down and is being repaired. She took me to the selling point which was my first port of call and requested that my request be done. I handed over the purchase and showed them my receipt. And it was in tandem with the price tag when cross checked.

    “After she left, a woman in white coat suddenly started talking aloud to other obviously junior staff in that section to delay my work, that, that way I won’t be able to come back again, some other time, to them. And their section would be able to sell their own fish.

    “She did not stop at that; she vowed that should anybody come with similar request again, she will personally tell the woman that brought me not to direct such requests again to her section. After over 20 minutes of waiting, my fish was eventually cut. A man packed them in the yellow polythene bag I handed it in and was looking for a newer bag for it, but the woman looked threateningly at him and said he should hand it over to me like that. The yellow polythene that was screaming ‘the lowest price. . .’, instantly became repulsive. I kept my cool and went to another cashier at the pay point and requested for a new polythene bag. He obliged after seeing my receipt. I left for the ladies since l was pressed after being tossed up and down in my condition.

    “At the ladies, the attendants were rolling out toilet papers to intending users. I recalled how in some countries l have been to, toiletries, washing basins with liquid hand soap and hand driers dotted similar malls. Thankfully, I was with my handbag that contained such essentials and dashed in to ease myself. I left the Ikeja Shoprite. And I am yet to return.

    When, I shared my experience with my colleagues, they burst out laughing. I was stunned. I enquired why they laughed simultaneously. They chorused that the only real Shoprite in Nigeria, attempting to maintain the standard is at Lekki. The Ikeja Shoprite is fast losing steam and the one at Surulere is the worst when it comes to customer relations.

    “A colleague recounted that recently at the Ikeja branch, a terrible show down was averted between her and one of the cashiers. How?

    She said: “I picked cornflakes where such were arranged, the price tag read- N999.99. And I picked some, going by my calculation, I was confident that the money with me would be enough to settle the bill for the purchase and other things I have bought.

    When I got to the cashier, the total amount exceeded my estimate and I brought my handset and recalculated and had a different total, I showed the cashier my results. She recalculated, and it was discovered there was error on the cornflakes’ price tag. The machine was fed with N1,450 yet the tags read N999.99. I requested that she deleted the purchase, so I can also return the cornflakes to the shelf, but she said it was not possible, because it has been punched and recorded by the machine. The saving grace was that I had extra money with which I paid for the ‘excess’ unbudgeted money.

    “When she was through with her narration, several others shared how they declined to leave their laptops and some other sensitive personal effects at the check-in counter because the staff manning such posts could not give them guarantee on whatever they leave behind despite being issued tags that are paired with their properties which the staff insisted are not allowed into the mall.

    One even pointed out that, for instance, in the US and South Africa, you get back your cents and other coins after payment, but not here in Nigeria in any of the Shoprite branches. The question is where does the ‘pool’ of coins go? Your guess is as good as mine.”

  • Arik Air suspends operation, accuses FAAN

    Arik Air suspends operation, accuses FAAN

    Arik Air yesterday suspended its domestic operations due to what it called persistent hostilities by officials of the Ministry of Aviation and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The Managing Director, Chris Ndulue, said the airline took the decision in the face of hostility, which the airline suffered yesterday. FAAN workers yesterday stopped operations at the domestic wing of the Lagos airport, locking in already checked in passengers.

    Ndulue said: “ Arik Air has no option than to suspend all domestic operations until further notice. This issue borders on personal interests and not payment of bills, since FAAN, has been collecting their charges in advance since18 months now. Arik Air regrets the inconveniences this disruption by FAAN would cause our guests.”

    He alleged that the airline’s troubles are due to its inability to meet the personal demands of certain influential persons in the industry, saying there have been several attempts and threats to disrupt the carriers operations and give the false impression that Arik AIr is owing agencies.

    He said: “ After these attempts failed, today (yesterday), they resorted to using some FAAN’ staff. We are aware that some staff refused to join them in the illegal and unwarranted action. They locked the boarding gate and prevented passengers from getting to the aircraft and were making false announcements of unimaginable sums of money they claimed Arik AIr is owing.

    “This is only a calculated attempt to punish the airline and tarnish its image.

    “For the record, Arik Air does not owe FAAN as being alleged by the agency. We want to state that FAAN has been collecting its charges over the last 18 months when it introduced the pay as you go system of revenue collection.

    “In this year alone, we have paid over N2 billion to FAAN . Several figures are being bandied about by FAAN as Arik Air’s indebtedness to the agency. The amount the agency is claiming is fictitious and baseless.

    “We have an outstanding balance of N1.6 billion from the period before the Ministry of Aviation and FAAN started pay as you go system. In January 2011 , the former minister of aviation directed that such outstanding be cleared within 30 months. We have been paying down on the amount at the rate of N100 million per month and we will continue to do so.”

    Arik did not explain the “personal demands”, but a text message going round yesterday said a senior government official had been insisting on having 5% shares in the airline – Nigeria’s biggest and fastest choice of most travellers because of its new equipment.

    FAAN, said it was not aware of the protest carried out by members of the industrial unions which entailed the disruption of Arik Airlines’ flights.

    The protest was carried to allegedly recover debts owed by the airline to various agencies in the industry.

    In a statement, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Akin Olukunle said : “ The management wishes to inform the public that it was not aware of any plan by the unions to embark on the said industrial action, as the management considers it to be counter-productive to the current efforts being made by management to recover debts owed FAAN by Arik Air and other customers.

    “The management wishes to assure the public, particularly air passengers and all other airport users, that we are doing everything possible to address the issue that informed the industrial action by the unions without recourse to violence.

    “We also wish to assure the public that their safety and security remains our top priority at all our airports, including the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.”

     

  • Men’s shirts that speak

    Looking for where to buy shirts? There are many shops to choose from. Some of them are: Twice as Nice Surulere, Konibbles, Ojuelegba, Wrangler Ikeja , Mr Price, Ikeja mall. The shirts are sold at affordable prices.

    When shopping for shirts, so many things should be put into consideration. The size of the buyer, the colour of the shirt, which shirt fits the buyer most, etc.

    Geoffrey Beene satin wrinkle-free dress shirt is sold for N6,600. Ankle shirt with design goes for N8,000. A Calvin Klein men’s polo is sold for N1,300.

    Solid shirts are beneficial in that you can wear virtually any tie with them but patterned shirts are a bit more difficult to match with ties.

    A shirt can be made with the best materials and by the best designer but it would not worth much if it doesn’t fit properly. It should closely follow the shape of your upper body, while still allowing you to cross your arms without it pulling at the shoulder.

    Shirts can be made out of different types of fabrics such as; polyester, silk, wool, bamboo and the most popular of all is cotton which was the first fabric to be used in the production of shirts.

    Shirt is one of the world’s oldest garments discovered by Flinders Petrie. It is a “highly sophisticated” linen design from a first dynasty Egyptian tomb at Tarkan.

    The trend is changing, and new shirts are produced more ranging from their different types, like the TM lewin design, Academy design, Atmosphere design , Harris and Curtis design and the Ralph Lauren design.

    Other major designers you should look out for when shopping are Ovadia and sons, Paul Smith London, Versace collection, Burberry London

    They are commonly worn these days, they are appropriate to wear to the office and other events. Dress shirts can be worn at any time when the situation calls for something that is more than simple or casual.

    However, bear in mind that these garments may be on the high side if you shop for a particular top designer.

    In some stores where shirts are sold, you might end up looking for dress shirts made by an unknown designer, which may make the shirt cheaper.

    Also, depending on the popularity of the store, if the price is too high, you may be able to bargain to some extent and get the known brands cheaper than their usual prices.

  • James Bond stars in new global Heineken campaign

    Heineken, the world’s leading premium beer, brand, has unveiled a thrilling new TV and digital campaign, in anticipation of the release of the 23rd James Bond adventure, SKYFALL™. In the film, Daniel Craig will bring his explosive portrayal of James Bond to a Heineken ad for the very first time. Challenging consumers to defy his enemies and ‘Crack the Case’, viewers will be taken on an epic train journey alongside stunning Bond newcomer Bérénice Marlohe.

    Launch yesterday, the interactive experience begins exactly where the TV advert leaves off, with viewers invited onto a train by the smouldering Bérénice before it embarks on a voyage through a spectacular vista of snowy mountains. Putting viewers through their paces, a series of gruelling tests will lead them to ‘Crack the Case’ whilst protecting its contents from ferocious Bond villains.

    Building on a 15-year relationship with the Bond franchise, the ‘Crack the Case’ campaign takes viewers into a moving train somewhere deep in snow-covered mountains, providing them with the opportunity to be a secret agent themselves. Transitioning viewers seamlessly from the TVC, Bond actress Bérénice Marlohe tantalises viewers by inviting them to help her crack a mysterious case and outwit the menacing villains – a challenge which encourages a virtual voyage of participation and discovery.

    The ‘Crack the Case’ campaign was created by advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam. The campaign TV ad, full details of which will only be revealed in time for September 20th launch, was directed by award winning Dutch filmmaker Matthijs Van Heijningen Jnr.

    Igniting global excitement and driving mass participation, an exclusive online teaser will be released ahead of the campaign launch on 20th September to a pocket of global super fans of Bond, incentivising these top fans to watch the TVC once it launches and leaving them wanting more.

    In addition to exploding conversation across digital, social and owned media platforms, the offline execution of ‘Crack the Case’ will bring the drama of the virtual experience ‘live’ to a broader audience across the globe in October. Several markets will host unique Heineken® experiences in iconic locations, inviting members of the public to test their nerve, win exclusive prizes and share in the excitement of the global release of SKYFALL this fall.

    Alexis Nasard, Chief Commercial Officer of HEINEKEN said: “The creativity and progressiveness of the Heineken® brand combined with the legendary James Bond franchise will provide viewers with high entertainment values. Not only a hero, Bond is the ultimate ‘Man of the World’ – confident, resourceful and ready for new experiences, personifying the values of the Heineken® brand.”

  • Govts urged to improve agriculture

    Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has called on all tiers of government to make serious commitment to improving agriculture in order to save the country from hunger.

    He made the call in Lafia while opening a one-day meeting organised by UNICEF D-Field office, Bauchi for top makers from 10 states of the federation.

    Al-Makura said the only panacea to eliminate hunger that was threatening more than one million children in the Sahel region was the need for Nigerians to utilise the nation’s vast agricultural potentials.

    He noted that the most vulnerable groups to the threats of disease, illiteracy, ignorance and poverty were women and children.”It is, therefore, a clarion call on all and sundry to come together to explore the possibilities of saving our people from imminent hunger.

    “The only panacea to the threat of hunger is our will to utilise the huge agricultural potentials which nature has endowed us with.

    ‘’To this end, we must overcome the lip service syndrome to realise our dream of achieving food sufficiency, security and, indeed, other development needs.”

    Al-Makura said his administration placed a high premium on the provision of basic social amenities to the people.

    He said since he assumed office in 2011, he had shown keen interest in synergising with UNICEF and other development partners with a view to meeting the development aspirations of the people.

  • Adopting India’s IT model to boost local content

    Adopting India’s IT model to boost local content

    Worried by foreign domination, local firms have launched a campaign to take over the ICT market by learning from countries with a robust and strong industry, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE

    For stakeholders, there is only one way to boost local participation in the information communication technology (ICT) industry and that is by learning from other countries with a strong industry. The stakeholders are seeking increase in local expertise, transfer of knowledge, software development, patronage of ICT products, among other issues that would engender growth in the industry.

    Some of the stakeholders, such as Ministry of Communication Technology, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Internet Services Providers of Nigeria (ISPN), Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Computers Professionals Council (CPN), Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ATCON) and Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTCON) argue that there are capable local firms that can run the industry better than foreigners.

    The bodies had at several fora called for stronger local content policies to help drive the sector, stressing the need to develop the huge potentials in the industry, and further make it one of the best globally. Leading the initiative was the Ministry of Communication Technology. Since its establishment one year ago, the ministry has introduced a number of far reaching measures to promote local content. Under the leadership of Mrs Omobola Johnson, the ministry has rolled out a local content agenda to ensure wider participation of more Nigerian companies in the industry. The agenda is anchored on five goals namely – promoting local software and services, production of devices, card manufacturing, ICT infrastructure inputs and skills development.

    Of note is capacity development, an issue that is gaining ground among the stakeholders. They believe the country must have a strong workforce to be able to drive the local content policy. They said an improved, efficient, and reliable workforce is necessary, if Nigeria wants to achieve its local content objectives. Proponents of these arguments said United States, Britain, Germany, China, India among other countries were able to record huge successes in the area of ICT through local initiatives, arguing that Nigeria cannot be an exemption.

    They said the ICT sector is growing faster in Nigeria, and that the country needs to learn from countries that have grown their ICT industry to an enviable height. Little wonder that the Nigerian ICT’s operators initiated exchange programmes with their colleagues in other countries abroad. Recently, the information Technology Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Computer and Software Companies of India (NASSCOM) organised a conference in Lagos.

    The theme of the conference was: “Empowering and Resuscitating Local IT Entrepreneurs via Local Content Development and Funding.” The forum attracted delegates from Nigeria and India. It also provided room for cross-fertilisation of ideas among the operators. A major objective of the conference was to enable Nigerian operators learn from their Indian counterparts, and seek ways of replicating the knowledge in the industry.

    The reason is because India has recorded tremendous growth in the area of information communication and technology. The country is not only outsourcing ICT services to United States, but also deriving huge revenues from the industry. Reports have it that the bulk of contributions to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from ICT industry.

    Speaking at the event, the President, Association of Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Mr Lanre Ajayi said India has been growing its ICT industry well, and therefore needs to assist the country in this regard. Ajayi said India has advanced greatly in the area of information communication and technology, arguing that the country has become a force to reckon with globally. He said India is one of the leading nations in the area of development of ICT’s infrastructure, arguing that Nigeria need to learn from the country.

    He said: “What we are doing today is to learn from our India counterparts and further improve capacity. The Local content policy cannot achieve its objectives, unless we develop local capacity. The only way to achieve this, is to learn from India, among other countries that have a well developed ICT’s industry. India’s achievements can be attributed to its citizens in Diaspora. Britain granted independence to India several decades ago. After independence, many Indians stayed back in Britain. These people have helped in transferring knowledge to India to grow the country’s ICT industry. Today, India has become one of the best ICT’s countries.

    “Nigeria would have achieved a lot in the area of ICT if its citizens in Diaspora have taken after the Indians. Since Nigerians in Diaspora have refused to come home and impact necessary ICT knowledge on us, we have to learn from a country like India that has recorded a robust growth in ICT. What I know is that one must learn from those that are superior to him. And that is what we are doing to spur growth in the industry. We believe that the idea will help in promoting the growth of local content agenda in the future.”

    Also, the President, ITAN, Mrs Florence Seriki said the issue of local content development is important because it would create jobs and revenue for the economy. She said there are lots to learn from countries that have carved a niche for themselves in the global’s ICT market, arguing that the collaboration between Nigeria and India would further grow the industry. She said operators are encouraging students to use locally manufactured computers, laptops, and Personal Computers (PCs), adding that the development has paid off. She said through the partnership, the two countries would be able to transfer skills that would strengthen the growth of the sector.

    The President, National Association of Computers and Software Companies of India, Mr Som Mital said the two countries would learn from each other and collaborate on the issue of investing in Nigeria. Mital said efforts would be made to forge lasting partnership arrangements between the two countries in the area of ICT development. He said investments in ICT industry in India is worth $300 billion, adding that the country has generated huge revenues from IT outsourcing services.

    “India boasts of a larger percentage of ICT’s market globally. The development has created a lot of value chains in India, and other countries where we have considerable influence. Through this collaboration, India and Nigeria will benefit from each other. With time, Nigeria will declare ICT as the biggest employer of labour. What the country needs to do is to open up its ICT’s industry for growth. The reason is because it can create capabilities, and further make the government to be more transparent. Mital said the two countries would benefit from each other, arguing that Nigeria would gain more in the area of capacity building.

    The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Johnson Omobola said efforts would be geared towards policies that encourage the patronage of locally developed software. Represented by her personal assistant, Mr Ola Ogunleye, Omobola said the government would continue to promote the establishment of ICT incubation centres that operate in a private sector/ entrepreneurial setting.

    “Included in this initiative is the promotion of a venture capital fund that would provide alternative and more appropriate means of funding for software and other ICT entrepreneurs especially in the start-up phases, as well as providing avenues for the commissioning of bespoke software by the business community. Government has directed that computers and laptops of a certain configuration purchased through appropriated funds must be locally assembled or manufactured in Nigeria. Likewise, local card production and consumption has been institutionalised to drive local content policy. For example, government insistence on local manufacturing of recharge cards has been successfully done and jobs and values have been created,” she said.

    The minister said appropriate guidelines and standards for IT products/ services, as well as campaign for the patronage of “Made in Nigeria” products have been launched. She said the ministry is working on providing regulatory framework that will protect intellectual property rights and privilege of the local entrepreneurs. She stressed that entrepreneurs would enjoy incentives such as tax-breaks, tariffs/levies concessions. The minister said the collaboration between ITAN and NASSCOM would encourage the growth of the ICT industry in India and Nigeria respectively.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • An industry in search of a present and a future

    An industry in search of a present and a future

    Some weeks back, the Nigerian government started inking the final roadmap for the development of one of the country’s most ignored but excessively acknowledged industry to leapfrog the economy: the local software and applications industry. Through the country’s IT guardian, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), government is seeking to put in place a National Software Policy “that can stand the test of time and adequately position software made in Nigeria in the forefront of global ICT market” as emphasized by the Director General of NITDA Prof. Cleopas O. Angaye, who is also a software developer with many patents and a professor of Computer.

    Nigeria is looking to the Indian example to justify its need for a forward looking official thrust at encouraging explosive growth in the local software industry where more than a 100 companies jostle for existence and opportunities to grow beyond ‘verandah companies.’ Some of the biggest earners in the budding industry include Computer Warehouse Group (ExpertEdge Limited), SystemSpecs, Programos Software Group, CSA, Precise Financial Systems (PFS) Limited, Signal Alliance Group and Infosoft among several others in the top earning league in excess of $80 million (about N120 million).

    But that is as far as the local companies could go in an industry heavily dominated by foreign software companies particularly of Indian origin who mop up the billion dollars in terms of monetary gains and brand acceptance. Market has remained a perilous ground for the local companies in the absence of clear-cut government support and a mix of factors that tend to erode sustainability and brand acceptability including unwillingness of corporate Nigeria to pay huge sum for locally made bespoke software.

    India offers a classic example of how a country could rework its economic fortune in the new world order. The authors of Nigeria’s new national software policy are clearly looking at the strong points. Last year, India made some $20 billion (about three trillion naira and in excess of Nigeria’s entire national budget) from software export to consolidate on its position as one of the biggest earner in global software and applications market. In the last half a decade, the $20 billion figure has become an annual gain-point that Indian software companies and the Indian government have sought to consolidate and expand on as part of the India’s economic growth indices.

    From 2007, the Indian software with auxiliary industry alone employed more than two million people and contributed about 4.8 per cent of India Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the last 10 years, India software export impact on nearly 95 countries to prove reach and acceptability. In contrast, and according to the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Nigeria losses about $1 billion (about N150 billion) annually to software importation majorly to India where Indian software applications virtually run the banking sector. With a potential market potential of $6 billion (about N900 billion), many experts think the Nigerian software industry lies in limbo because government has failed to see economic potential beyond the oil industry.

    Perhaps, the new drive under NITDA at providing a national software policy offers the most convincing attempt in official circle to support a most ignored sector for well over a decade, where practitioners have ceaselessly called for clearly defined support for the indigenous software industry. In the last 10 years, government has approached oiling the local industry with woozy statements and hazy actions including the establishment of a national software park, National Software Development Initiative, National Software Development Taskforce and the national IT policy, and un-patterned public-sector patronage often leaving the local practitioners confused and vulnerable to manipulation by public establishments. For instance, a leading software company which got a World Bank aided deal to run locally made software application that would manage the country’s civil service got the deal terminated in its second phase by a government ministry in favour of a foreign company for reasons the World Bank considered objectionable. The local company would rather sulk than fight its case because there is no official policy thrust it could rely on to push its case on merit.

    In the hardware sub-sector, practitioners such as Zinox Computers and Omatek Computers Plc have been able to push for a clear-cut policy that encourages the patronage of local computer companies first before their foreign counterparts. But the Nigerian local software companies have never been able to muster sufficient public consciousness to pressure government to adopt policy that will affect its growth in spite of the existence of an umbrella body: the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON). While companies like Zinox, Omatek and even smaller players such as Beta Systems and Balogtek have been able to be primal gainers in government’s multibillion naira spending on computer hardware in the last eight years, the software market has gone to the Indians and other foreign companies.

    In their 2004 survey report titled: A Profile of Nigeria’s Software Industry, Abimbola Soriyan and Richard Heeks observed that “Nigeria’s software industry is an industry that has been disappointingly neglected to date in work on software in developing countries, despite Nigeria’s size and both economic and political importance. The survey found there are more than 100 firms active in the industry, principally clustered around the South-West of the country and virtually all private-owned. Most firms are small enterprises (11-50 staff) and most professional staff have at least a first degree. Customers are drawn almost exclusively from the private sector and from the domestic market: software exports are few and far between.

    “The majority of work focuses on providing services – such as installation, customisation and training – related to imported packages, and there are signs of decline in development of locally-written software. Strategic analysis of the industry according to Heeks’ quadrant model shows that Nigeria needs to bolster such local development work. For this to happen, firms must target market segments with some degree of protection from imports. They must also strengthen their software development practices, something that will be partly dependent on improvements in the provision of software education by local universities.”

    Much of that observation has not changed almost eight years later as policymakers make to chart a new course for the industry. Angaye is convinced that with the new thrust, positive change is in the offing. His words: “I strongly believe that we shall come out with a credible National Software Policy that can stand the test of time and adequately position software Nigeria in the forefront of global ICT market.” But his optimism is depended on government’s change of attitude as one stakeholder puts it: “Government, who controls bulk of the economic activity in this country, has to be ready to spend the right amount of time, energy and money into software development.”

    So, where does the future lie with government support? Quality production of software, graded and tested by a body certified to do so which invariably offers market confidence to the products and ultimately encourages patronage for the local brands.” Development of these strategic positions can only be properly achieved if software project processes and methods are of sufficient quality. Without that quality, there will be shortcomings in locally-produced software, which will turn customers off, and push the industry further towards foreign products to continue the vicious circle. On the other hand, if acceptable quality can be built, then locally-produced software will be more effective than imports in meeting customer requirements.

  • BoI to create special funds for ICT entrepreneurs

    BoI to create special funds for ICT entrepreneurs

    THE Bank of Industry (BoI) will provide special funds for the information communication and technology entrepreneurs that meet its requirements, its Managing Director, Ms Evelyn Oputu, has said.

    Speaking in Lagos, Oputu said funding was the major problem of many operators.

    The bank, she said, did not have a special desk for ICT, despite the industry being one of the major contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in recent times.

    She said: “We do not have sector specific for ICT. As situation arises, we give loans to ICT firms that have shown willingness to do business and achieve results. We take seriously every sector that has impact on the people. ICT is one of those sectors, though its yet to realise its potentials in the country.

    “At the Bank of Industry, we reject any aspect of the economy that do not impact on the country’s Gross Domestic Product. We lay emphasis on value added creations. We have a lot of schemes in the bank. That is why we are coming out with a unique way of lending to businesses. However, the funds would be given to only the serious ICT entrepreneurs who have shown a lot of commitments to his/her businesses. I wants you to be rest assured that you have a banker that would support you, may be at a single-digit rate or very close.

    She urged entrepreneurs to come out with transactions that are deserving and above- board, adding that the bank would not hesitate to finance such business owners.

    “Our responsibility is to support any transactions you are bringing, but would vet them and see whether they are qualified for loans. Once you are coming with your technology and capacity , we would give you funds to scale up your operations. What we are trying to do is to get those funds out there back to BoI, for onward lending to entrepreneurs in the ICT industry at a single-digit rate,“she added.

    She said the bank would see lend to the industry to create value propositions, and further attract foreign investments into the country.

    According to her, the decision to support ICT entrepreneurs was based on their growing contributions to the nation’s economy.

  • Teachers get 45,000 computers

    ABOUT 45,000 teachers in Lagos State will benefit from the first phase of computer ownership scheme powered by Brainfield educational software solution.

    The firm, in a statement, said it distributed about 500 computers during the first phase of the scheme, adding that the remaining 40,000 would be given out during the second phase. It said the development is part of the e-learning programmes of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT). It said the application will contain 42 subjects, over 10,000 theorems, definitions and formular for the e-gadgets.

    It said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to make computers available to teachers in a flexible payment scheme.

    He said, with this development, beneficiaries will move away from traditional teaching to e-teaching practice.

    Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye said the scheme would help improve teachers’ standards. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Education District 1 Lagos State, Mrs Victoria Mopelda Peregring during the launch of the scheme in Lagos, Oldunjoye said the capacity building project is a welcome development.

    “I commend Cinfores for developing the innovation software that powered the Laptops. It will help teachers adapt in the virtual learning environment which is not a global practice. With the project, Lagos teachers will now be part of the best practice in e-learning which is replacing traditional learning,” she said.

    According to her, any teacher who fails to take IT education serious will be left behind in the knowledge-based society.

    For the the State Chairman, NUT, Comrade Sampson Kayode Idowu, in his speech said as implementer of education policies, it was the occupation of NUT Lagos chapter to add value to the efforts of the government to ensure significant improvement in the overall quality of education in Lagos State.