ICT LOCA Roundtable advocates robust measures to promote the consumption of local ICT goods and services in the Oil and Gas sector

ICT LOCA ROUNDTABLE ADVOCATES ROBUST MEASURES TO PROMOTE THE CONSUMPTION OF LOCAL ICT GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE OIL AND GAS SECTOR

ICT Community Roundtable organized by ICT Local Content Association (ICTLOCA) has advocated robust measures and solutions to challenges facing ICT Practitioners engaged in the provisions of goods and services in the Oil and Gas Sector and other sector of the economy.

As part of efforts to tap into the huge investment opportunities innate in the Oil and Gas sector, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum ICT (NCCF-ICT) sectoral working group of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) gave birth to ICT Local Content Association (ICTLOCA) to actualize this dream.

ICTLOCA is the association responsible for the protection of interest of local ICT practitioners, enforcement and implementation of the NOGICD Act and other local content policies of government on the use and deployment of indigenous Information Communication Technology products and services in the oil and gas sector and other sectors of the Nigerian economy for the benefit of local ICT practitioners. The ICT Local Content Association represents the interest of ICT practitioners in the oil and gas sector. The Local Content Act allows Nigerian ICT players to provide 75 per cent rental of communication lines, 85 per cent telecommunication subscription services; 95 percent of public address system services as well as 75 percent of other information system/ IT services. Also to tap into the over $190 billion local content market following the creation of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum ICT (NCCF-ICT) sectorial working group by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

30^th of January was historical in the history of the Association as ICT Practitioners gathered at NIRA Secretariat, 8, Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere in Lagos state to discuss ways indigenous ICT Practitioners could benefit from the NOGICD and other policies put in place for the promotion of local ICT goods and services during a Live ICT Community Roundtable themed “ICT Local Content: Dissecting challenges and proffering solutions. 

From the opening speech of Mr. Adewale Akingbade, President, ICT LOCA, the ICT Community Roundtable was put together to deepen patronage of local ICT goods and services and to provide huge financial and investment opportunities for Nigerians in Information and Communication Technology. 

The Roundtable which was hinged on three major activities which are exhibition, discussion and presentation of communique gave invited members and stakeholders the opportunity to deliberate on challenges militating against ICT companies and practitioners from benefiting from the local content laws and policies that is put in place to promote the patronage of local ICT goods and services in the Oil and Gas sector. 

In her Keynote address, Edith Udeagu, the Executive Secretary of NiRA said local content development in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector will serve as a stimulant for nation’s economic recovery and increase the production, sales, consumption of high-quality information technology products and services developed by indigenous companies that serve the needs of the local and global market.

The Roundtable session with the theme: Role, Challenges, Solution was moderated by a member of the Association and supported by Mr. Gbolahan Awonuga (ICT LOCA Treasurer) and Mrs. Abibat Olatunji, ICT LOCA Legal Adviser. It also had the following important dignitaries as panelists Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Chairman/CEO, NCC, Representative fromNigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Emma Okonji, President NITRA, Prince Akinsemoyin, President, Nigeri-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and ‘DeRemi Atanda, Chairman of NCCF-ICT. Patrick Obah, Director, Planning, Research and statistics of NCDMB, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, ALTON, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami PhD, Director General, NITDA, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Executive Secretary, PEBEC and Oluwaseun Adesanya, Chairman, Awareness and Planning Committee. Rev. Sunday Afolayan and Mr. Jide Awe also served as members of the Panel.

The 16-point communiqué issued after the Roundtable meeting was presented in the presence of the following stakeholders, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), FinTrak Software, SystemSpecs, BlueBic Limited, Local Content Diplomacy (LCD), Nigerian Content Consultative Forum in ICT (NCCF-ICT), Computers Guild of Nigeria (CGN), Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and other Individual Organizations. The communiqué was moderated by Adebunmi Akinbo, Secretary of ICT LOCA and supported by NCCF-ICT and representatives of NCDMB.

Resolutions reached at the end of the meeting include:

1. Government to encourage deliberate consumption of local ICT goods and services in the public and private sector, according to the NOGICD Act 2010.

2. NCDMB to ensure that the websites of Nigerian Companies bidding for contracts must be hosted locally and that they use a .ng domain name.

3. NCDMB to provide ICTLOCA access to Annual Nigerian Content Performance Report relating to ICT Contracts in the Oil and Gas industry and other relevant information that will assist the Association.

4. NITDA should certify local ICT Software and certify local software vendors.

5. Enforcement and Monitoring of local content laws and policies of government on the promotion of local content in ICT by CPN, NITDA, NCC and other relevant regulatory bodies.

6.

NCDMB to maintain a database of the formal and informal ICT skills and capabilities, with Open (statistics) Data Access to all Stakeholders.

7. Government through the NCDMB to identify, support and fund young innovators in the ICT industry and implement intervention programmes to correct the identified skills/competence gap.

8. NCDMB to support ICTLOCA’s efforts to ensure the patronage of local ICT goods and services.

9. CPN certification should be a sufficient requirement for the registration ICT practitioners on the NOGICD and NJQS.

10. Intensify collaborations between NCDMB and NCCF-ICT to increase awareness and sensitization of practitioners in the ICT industry.

11. NCDMB in collaboration with NITDA, NCC and other relevant government agencies should support existing ICT Hubs to be more efficient, sustainable and relevant to the needs of the industry.

12. Government through the relevant regulatory agencies should sanction all offenders of local content laws and policies.

13. NCDMB to organize relevant trainings and seminars for ICT practitioners to enlighten them on project tendering and ICT Jobs and Service contract awards processes and implementation in the Oil and Gas Sector.

14. NCDMB to consider the possibility of unbundling jobs in the oil and gas sector to create opportunities for local ICT SMEs to partake in projects that are relatively within their financial capability.

15. NCDMB to collaborate with ICTLOCA and NCCF-ICT to immediately conduct a survey to determine the quantum of ICT goods and services utilized in the sector, the percentage provided by Nigerians and foreigners and the Skill set required majorly by local ICT practitioners to undertake the provisions of ICT goods and services in the sector.

16. NCDMB to facilitate the participation of OEMs and ICT practitioners in Nigeria to drive investment in Local Content.

In his closing remarks, Rev. Sunday Afolayan lauded the executives of ICT LOCA for organizing such educative and informative event (ICT Community Roundtable) and further urged members and stakeholders of the Forum to continue coming up with ideas and events aim at unbundling jobs and opportunities for ICT Practitioners in the oil and gas sector.

By: Tolulope Adedoyin – National P.R.O (Computer Guild of Nigeria – CGN). Ibadan.