Nigeria’s IT Dominance and Challenges
TECH DIGEST– In a recent industrial specialization report released by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Nigeria’s Information Technology (IT) and information services industry emerged as a global powerhouse, standing 27 per cent above the international average in proportion to its economy. The report, which assessed 40 nations, positioned Nigeria at an impressive 8th place. However, beneath this remarkable achievement lies a nuanced narrative of both success and decline.
Read Also:
The ITIF’s Hamilton Index, a comprehensive metric tracking industrial strength, revealed that Nigeria’s IT and information services sector has experienced a significant downturn since 2010. Once boasting a position more than twice as robust as the global average, it has since seen a gradual erosion of its strength on the global stage. This raises critical questions about the sustainability of its current position and the factors contributing to this decline.
ITIF President Robert D. Atkinson, who spearheaded the study, emphasized the evolving landscape of global economic and national security, asserting that a nation’s prowess in a select group of advanced industries is pivotal.
While Nigeria’s IT and information services sector remains a beacon of strength, constituting a growing share of the nation’s economy, its global output has diminished over time. Moreover, the broader spectrum of advanced industries in Nigeria, ranging from computers and electronics to machine equipment, lags significantly behind the international average. In 2020, these industries collectively registered a staggering 71 per cent weaker performance compared to the global benchmark.
, Nigeria's){kind=link}