The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has called for better utilisation of indigenous developers and solutions to help boost the local economy.
Dr Surajo Aliyu, President of NCS, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
He stressed the importance of supporting local products, saying, “If we don’t support our own products, no one else will.”
Aliyu expressed concern over Nigerians developing products that were not supported locally, noting that some even went abroad to register and market them.
He highlighted that this resulted in revenue and job opportunities flowing to foreign countries instead of benefiting Nigeria.
“The solutions purchased abroad are built by people who have never even been to Nigeria.
“Foreigners then employ our citizens, exporting our job opportunities while importing unemployment,” he said.
He appealed to the government to prioritise supporting the IT industry and its professionals, stressing the importance of liaising with NCS, a key player in the sector.
According to Aliyu, the government should consult IT professionals at all levels, local, state, and federal, whenever making decisions or policies related to IT.
Aliyu also encouraged learning from other countries to improve its own industry, ensuring that more homegrown solutions were embraced.
He further stated that NCS, with its comprehensive database, was well-positioned to help guide policy decisions that would foster economic growth.
