The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has emphasized the need for greater reliance on indigenous developers and locally made solutions to drive economic growth.
Dr. Surajo Aliyu, President of NCS, made this appeal in an interview with Starreporters in Lagos on Monday.
He underscored the importance of backing homegrown innovations, stating, “If we don’t support our own products, no one else will.”
Aliyu lamented that many Nigerian developers often lacked local support, with some resorting to registering and marketing their products abroad.
He pointed out that this practice diverts revenue and job opportunities overseas instead of strengthening Nigeria’s economy.
“The solutions we import are created by individuals who have never set foot in Nigeria. In the end, foreigners hire our citizens, taking away job prospects while bringing in unemployment,” he said.
He urged the government to actively support the country’s IT industry and professionals, advocating closer collaboration with NCS, a key stakeholder in the sector.
Aliyu stressed that IT professionals should be consulted at all government levels—local, state, and federal—when formulating policies related to technology.
He also encouraged Nigeria to learn from global best practices to enhance its own IT sector while ensuring increased adoption of locally developed solutions.
According to him, NCS, with its extensive database, is well-positioned to guide policy decisions that will drive economic progress.
(NAN)