An ICT expert, Dr Abdulwahab Olajide Kunle, has warned against operational risk if the National Population Commission (NPC) were to continue with its plan to deliver 800,000 devices from just one company for the upcoming 2023 Census exercise.
The ICT expert, who welcomed the commission’s efforts to deliver a technology-driven census for 2023, expressed concern about the unusual focus on foreign tablet brands and suppliers, saying it reduces the opportunities for job creation in the country.
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Speaking in Abuja, at an event organised by Young ICT Professionals, Kunle urged the NPC to ensure that such a high deployment of devices is fairly distributed among the competent factories in the tech industry so as to manage delivery risk and maximize job creation opportunities across the country.
He advised the federal government to patronize the local industry robustly as preparations for the 2023 census begin in earnest.
Kunle said the NPC must embrace competent Nigerian producers of devices for the 2023 National Population Census exercise to help grow the economy, manage risks and strengthen the security situation in the country.
He said one of the major challenges affecting the ICT industry in the country was that some Nigerians believe that imported products are of higher quality than locally-made ones, noting that the country now boasts of over five world-class computer device assembly plants and three Original Equipment Manufacturers OEM certified by global bodies.
The expert said the number continues to dwindle because of a lack of fair patronage of local producers.
He commended President Muhammed Buhari for his unrelenting campaign in the areas of patronising locally-made products in the country and said the FG’s efforts in that regard had greatly yielded results.
He said challenges abound for investors who struggle to justify the investment, adding that the decision by NPC to procure 800,000.00 devices is enough to revolutionize the ICT manufacturing sector in the country.
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