By Martin Ekpeke
The Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) has made a five points demand from the Honorable Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu.
CAPDAN, the umbrella body comprising the Dealers, Vendors, Artisans, Technician and SMEs at the popular Lagos Computer Village listed the demands, when the Minister paid a one-day working visit to the market yesterday.
The demands, which the association’s President, Ojikutu Ahmed Adeniyi, described as areas of working relationship with the Minister in order to improve the Nigeria’s ICT Ecosystem are recognition of the informal sector like the Computer Village in the Ministry’s programs.
Others are collaborating in training to get technicians at the Computer Village to international standard and building incubation center for more training.
Drive local content in the ICT sector so as to develop more made in Nigeria products.
Help facilitate free broadband in Computer Village through the Nigeria Satellite.
Funding for ICT research to develop Nigeria based software.
Reacting, the Minister said he is honoured to visit the Computer Village, which has made a valuable contribution to the awareness of ICT in all spheres of life of the Nigerian populace.
He disclosed that there are concrete steps to transform Computer Village into ICT regional Hub, owing to its estimated N2billion turnover per day. The Minister admitted this is a huge contribution to the Nigeria’s economy, which is largely dependent on Oil.
“The federal government is ready to partner CAPDAN, especially in the area of local content because we know you have first hand experience in terms of ICT usage,” he assured.
The Minister also noted that any ICT related product that can be produced in large quality must be discouraged from being imported, saying Nigeria cannot be a dumping ground.