TECHDIGEST – Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) is set to lead stakeholders in the country’s software industry to the first Software Testing Conference tagged ‘TestNigeria Conference 1.0’, organized by Nigeria Software Testing Qualification Board (NGSTQB).

Since the assumption of office in August of 2019, Professor Pantami’s aggressive initiatives and reforms towards digital transformation have received recognition within and outside the country.

The Minister had expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate with the NGSTQB in democratizing software testing.

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Prof. Pantami will expatiate on the government’s agenda for the software industry at the TestNigeria Conference 1.0 to be held on Tuesday, November 22 and Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki road, Lagos under the theme: ‘Impact of Software Quality Assurance in the Nigerian Digital Economy.

Guests & speakers lined up for the conference are; Mr Hakeem Fahm, Hon Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Olivier Denoo, President of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), Mr. Bob Van de Burgt, the Test Maturity Model integration Foundation (TMMi) Local Chapter Manager, Dr. Babatunde Oghenobruche Obrimah, Chief Operating Officer, FINTECH Association of Nigeria, and Dr Chika O. Yinka-Banjo, Department of Computer Sciences, University of Lagos.

Other expected guests and speakers include; Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner / CEO, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), Dr. Dan- Azumi Ibrahim, Director General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Mrs Rukiya Mohammed, Director of IT, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ms Ola Williams, Country Manager Nigeria & Ghana, Microsoft Nigeria; Speaker from Inlaks, and Global Accelerex.

Speaking ahead of the Conference, Mr Boye Dare, the President of NGSTQB, said that TestNigeria Conference 1.0, said that the role of software professionals in actualizing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, cannot be overemphasized.

He said that TestNigeria Conference 1.0 will feature a networking cocktail, keynote presentations, panel sessions and fireside chat including special sessions on Software Test Improvement in Organisations; the Growing Software Testing Ecosystem in Nigeria’s Educational Sector, and the Need for Certified Test Professionals in Organisations.

While reemphasizing the need for software testing, Mr. Dare said is it vital for Nigeria to be identified as a country with high-quality software.

In his words, “Testing is necessary because we all make mistakes. Some of those mistakes are unimportant, but some are expensive and dangerous.

“Software failures can be devastating to company value and reputation. For example, UK-based loan company Provident Financial lost 1.7 billion pounds (about 2.4 billion American dollars) of market value in 2017 after a bug in their newly developed scheduling software, such that barely half of their loan debts were collected when due. This bug cost the company 120 million pounds (170 million American dollars) in profit loss, and the fiasco is considered a record-breaking loss.

Designed as a platform for software professionals to discuss how the Nigerian IT ecosystem can start developing quality software that meets international standards and help achieve Nigeria’s Digital Economy Strategy, the conference is targeted at software developers, banks, government institutions, telcos, fintech companies, industry regulators and major users of sensitive software among others.

Interested participants should visit the website here or click https://www.ngstqb.ng/conference/ to see details.

NGSTQB is a member of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB); the world’s leading organization for the Certification of Professionals in Software Testing.

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 TECHDIGEST – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has engaged with Lagos State stakeholders to establish a sustainable collaboration necessary for a viable digital ecosystem in the country.

The engagement program ‘Creating Boundaries and Breaking Boundaries: Towards Digitalisation and Entrepreneurial Evolution’, forms part of efforts towards implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

Key players across the Lagos State IT ecosystem shared ideas and proffered suggestions on how to address challenges and deliver value to all stakeholders.

In his opening remarks, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, stated that the Agency’s response to the increasing need of the Digital Economy System had been demonstrated through the implementation of critical areas of the NDEPS.

The DG, represented by the Agency’s Director of Zonal Offices, Jide Ajayi, asserted that the Agency has evolved from a highly centralized organization to a functionally decentralized institution.

“We aspire to be close to our stakeholders, pursue our strategies, ensure financial prudence, and to become a process-driven, data-dependent, result-oriented organization.”

Inuwa also said that despite the challenges faced, the Agency is ensuring that the objectives of the National IT Governance with priority to delivering value to stakeholders are met. He described this as sequential to the Agency’s core values; People First, Innovativeness, and Professionalism.

“Our stakeholders come first, and we must strive to deliver value to you. That would not be possible without listening to you and speaking with you to get clarity on your perspectives, aspirations, and needs”, he affirmed.

The NITDA boss hoped that the event and whole stakeholder engagement program nationwide would offer fresh understandings and ideas on how impactful value can be delivered to Nigerians.

“We see this meeting as a veritable platform to pool knowledge, experience, and expertise, and to co-create solutions, articulate strategies, and extend our services to all stakeholders, especially at the grassroots,” he concluded.

In a keynote address, Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hakeen Fahm, commended the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and NITDA for organizing the stakeholder event and expressed his confidence that all participants through constructive interactions would benefit from it.

He noted that the laws that established the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, as well as NITDA, stated that digital technologies have more significant consequences for value creation and value capture than merely providing new options for inventors and entrepreneurs.

“The digital revolution has transformed our lives and societies at an unprecedented rate and scale, bringing enormous benefits and, of course, terrible problems. New technologies have the potential to make major contributions to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”, he added.

While empathizing on the numerous benefits of digital inclusion in bridging digital divides in the country, the Honorable Commissioner stated that strengthening local cooperation is essential in realizing digital technology’s entire social and economic potential.

“I hope this comprehensive approach will answer Nigerians’ desire to participate in the new digital world, not just as users and consumers but also as producers, exporters, and inventors, to create and capture more value on their path to sustainable development,” he noted.

Earlier, the Head of the Southwest Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Aguguo, thanked all participants for attending the program and urged them to critique and make constructive recommendations that would help the Agency in achieving its mandate for the good of the ecosystem.

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