Nigerian software developers have generated more than $1 million in sales from locally developed applications sold across domestic and regional markets, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has said.

The Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, attributing the milestone to targeted government interventions supporting innovation, intellectual property protection, and market access.

Amadiobi said the growth recorded by local developers was largely driven by deliberate NOTAP initiatives aimed at building technical capacity, safeguarding intellectual property rights, and linking innovators to viable commercial opportunities.

According to her, many Nigerian developers previously struggled to move their ideas from conception to impact because they failed to secure intellectual property protection early enough.

“Whether it is a literary work, a laboratory invention, or a creative digital product, the process of bringing an idea to life demands immense time, skill, and dedication,” she said.

“An innovator might wake up with a solution to a pressing problem, spend months testing and refining it, and achieve remarkable results. It is their fundamental right to patent that creation and claim ownership.”

She warned that failure to protect intellectual property exposes Nigerian innovations to exploitation, noting that unprotected ideas could easily be copied, patented by others, and legally controlled outside their original creators.

On the revenue breakdown, the NOTAP boss said the $1 million milestone was generated from over 50 locally developed applications, with individual developers earning between $5,000 and $80,000.

She listed some of the high-performing solutions to include a mobile health platform serving about 750,000 users across six states, an agricultural marketplace connecting smallholder farmers to buyers, and an educational technology tool adopted by 200 schools to improve learning outcomes.

Amadiobi added that about 60 per cent of the total sales recorded last year came from other African countries, reflecting strong regional demand for Nigerian-built software solutions.

She disclosed that NOTAP plans to double local software sales by 2027, with a focus on high-growth sectors such as financial technology, renewable energy management, and climate adaptation tools.

However, Amadiobi identified digital piracy and counterfeiting as major obstacles to growth in the ICT sector, warning that unauthorised duplication continues to undermine innovation.

“From copied software applications to replicated content on social platforms like TikTok, unauthorised duplication has become a major barrier to growth,” she said.

“We see talented young creators develop unique digital content or tools, only to watch others rebrand and profit from their work within weeks.”

She noted that many online creators with distinctive styles remain unaware that their work can be protected through intellectual property registration.

According to her, these challenges informed NOTAP’s multi-pronged intervention strategy, with the Local Vendor Policy serving as a central pillar. The policy requires foreign technology firms operating in Nigeria to partner with local companies and allocate a portion of their technical service fees to domestic vendors.

She explained that the policy has helped local developers transition from support roles for foreign firms to building competitive homegrown products capable of succeeding in regional and global markets.

NOTAP, she said, remains committed to promoting local technology development and protecting intellectual property, adding that the agency has issued over 340 patent certificates to researchers, institutions, and innovators since its inception.

Recently, the agency presented patent certificates to 21 Nigerian innovators for solutions addressing societal challenges and driving economic growth, including innovations in renewable energy, power equipment, and electrical development.

Amadiobi said strengthening intellectual property protection remains critical to reducing unauthorised copying, attracting investment, and ensuring that Nigerian innovators fully benefit from their cr

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In a continuous effort to foster inclusivity between the government and citizens of Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria and the implementing organisation Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), organised a two-day event titled “Digital Policy Dialogue: Cooperate. Innovate” aimed at engaging stakeholders on the Participatory Policy Implementation Framework (PPIF).

Speaking during the event, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, noted that the framework focuses on involving citizens in policy development and implementation, thereby promoting ownership and accountability.

The DG said, “Today marks a remarkable milestone in our journey to reimagine the position of NITDA in the Nigerian tech ecosystem. Five years ago, NITDA faced a significant trust deficit with the tech community due to top-down policy impositions. To address this, NITDA shifted to a collaborative approach, emphasising co-design and co-creation.”

Inuwa expressed gratitude to GIZ for their support, which began with the Nigerian Startup Act created through a collaborative process. Following this success, GIZ and DTC assisted in developing the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) through a similar participatory process.

The initiative, according to him, has seen significant citizen engagement, with the creative sector recently volunteering to champion digital literacy in Nigeria.

He further said that, NITDA is collaborating with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train citizens across 774 local governments and the Ministry of Education to integrate digital skills into the national curriculum by next year, which is an effort towards achieving the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy’s long-term target of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030 and midterm target of 70% by 2027.

Inuwa highlighted that the engagement aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) which has one of its eight pillars as “Strengthening Policy Implementation and Legal Framework.

“To ensure sustainability, GIZ and DTC are formalising a participatory policy implementation framework that can be adapted beyond the digital sector, benefiting areas such as education, agriculture, and healthcare,” he added.

He applauded all stakeholders for their past contributions and urged for continued collaboration to solidify the legal framework policy implementation in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Engineer Faruk Yusuf Yabo expanded on the expectations of the PPIF in his keynote address.

He said, “The proposed framework introduces several key initiatives: establishing multi-channel stakeholder engagement, promoting collaborative decision-making through digital platforms, ensuring transparency and accountability, investing in capacity building, and implementing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.”

Furthermore, he stressed that the approach is designed to foster a participatory policy-making process and ensure that the benefits of technological advancements are equitably distributed.

He disclosed that the initiative is supported by partners including the European Union and the German government, which marks the beginning of a commitment to inclusivity and transparency in Nigeria’s digital policy development.

Earlier in his opening speech, the Coordinator, Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEDEC) GIZ, Nigeria Dr. Markus Wauschkuhn welcomed the participants to the public presentation of the draft Participatory Policy Implementation Framework (PPIF) for the ICT and digital economy sectors.

Wauschkuhn pointed out the vital contributions of NITDA, GIZ, and all stakeholders involved in creating the PPIF, noting the importance of a participatory policy-making process that includes diverse voices from individuals, communities, businesses, and institutions.

He accentuated that the approach aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in governance while addressing the rapid advancements in the digital age.
In her opening statement, Dr. Thwueba Dwani, Head of Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria, stated that involving stakeholders in policy implementation enhances sustainability and relevance, as evidenced by numerous studies. She introduced the Participatory Policy Implementation Framework (PPIF) as a crucial tool for Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and participatory formats.

Other agencies represented at the event were the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), the Civil Society Organisation, the private sector, and other relevant stakeholders.

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TECHDIGEST – With layoffs by giant tech companies reaching alarming proportion, there are fears that the trend may soon hit Nigeria. This reality in addition to Nigeria 32 per cent unemployment figure should concern whoever emerges president of Nigeria in forthcoming election, writes Nosa Alekhuogie

The tons of quick spins of global tech giants laying off their workforce, spills a worrisome reality on the face of job security and the viability of the global tech industry.

With the global numbers of laid-off workers reaching about 75,000 plus in January alone, this global concern is set for critical preparedness in emerging tech industries like that of Africa and Nigeria to be precise. It is crucial to ascertain the degree of impact the rallying layoff trend will have on the Nigerian tech space when it eventually arrives.

There is certainly no room for extended debates about whether or not tech startups or organisations in Nigeria are being hit by the current situation. We can trace this back to 2022 when we saw several Nigeria startups jump on the layoff spin to save themselves but in 2023, experts anticipate more layoffs if the right person is not voted as the president of Nigeria in the forthcoming general elections. If the right policies and regulations are not stamped, the intensity of what will hit the Nigerian tech space will be more than crippling. It is based on this that this review will be looking at the tech enabling pointers from the documents of the three major contenders for the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Seat – Peter Obi, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar.

READ ALSO: FG targets three new tech unicorns in 2023

Nigeria Tech Space

Former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, sometime last year released his 72 paged manifesto titled ‘It is Possible: Our Pact with Nigerians.’ In this document, he detailed his focus for the technology sector and stressed that his government would take to exploring the tech in confronting terrorism, up-skilling young Nigerians, and expanding the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In his drive to transition the country into a production economy, he stated that he would leap Nigeria into the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) through massive adoption in of tech in education, transportation, agriculture, clean energy, and public-private industrial engagements. He was also quick to mention that technology will be infused into the public policy sector which will help drive economic and social development. Obi also proposed the idea of having a national broadband as well as e-commerce map which he intends to explore in addressing the wider technological reach for young people.

Despite Obi’s articulated intentions for the Nigerian people, he still doesn’t address the core issues underling the Nigerian tech space. What is visible are his substantive plans to infuse technology into the system and not to drive it as a running industry. To drive a system or an industry, such plans need to be guided and empowered by regulations and policies many of which Obi’s manifesto seemingly shy away from.

A typical example as cited in his 72-page document, was his silence on how to increase internet access, digital inclusion, and data protection through a wholesome approach to innovations – foreign or home grown.

He failed to talk about the Nigerian Startup Bill and also, talk expressly about his plans for Intellectual Property of innovators who are going to be the star players in his consumer-to-production transformational goal. It is important to also slice it in that Obi has refused to trend along the global tech space technologies, which are Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and Extended realities. Rather what we see him do is to indirectly infuse this in his idea of technology, which is typical of what the present government did when they were campaigning in 2015.

Savaging Nigeria Tech Space

In his 80-page manifesto titled, “Renewed Hope”, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All-Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, seems to have an elaborate plan for the Nigerian tech industry, regarding his commitment to adopting technology as a tool to tackle infrastructural, economic, and social developmental needs. For him, with technology the country can effectively combat insecurity, multiplicity of roles, poor irrigation systems, moribund tax systems, agriculture lags, educational slags, pipeline vandalism and others. He also stated that he would develop tech hubs and parks, which will drive increase interest of accelerators and angel investors within the space. Tinubu, being aware of the role of blockchain, mentioned that he will drive favourable policies for wider adoption of blockchain in finance, identity management, and revenue collection. He hinted that he would continue the eNaira idea and increase scholarship schemes for girls in tech.

It is easy for Nigerians to be swayed by the articulation of Tinubu’s manifesto for the Nigerian tech Industry, but it is crucial that we see look at this objectively. A lot of his intentions are not any different from what we received from past governments, in fact, what we see is a doctored manifesto that seems to address superficial issues around the Nigerian tech space.

For instance, he proposed one million tech jobs in the first two years of his administration, which is typical of the promises we have had in the past. In his manifesto, there is no clear provision for strategies by which many of his intentions will be achieved. As regards his comment on Intellectual Property, what Nigerians see is a dumped idea of reviewing legislative framework for copyright and intellectual property but what happens to him stating his implementation model expressly? On his blockchain touchpoint, it is obvious that what he did was to win over young people while denying them his full interpretation of blockchain – which a system that will only be usable by the government and not general techpreneurs. This is seen in his careful mention of crypto as an asset as opposed to it being a currency. That is, there is a foreseeable threat to crypto startups in Nigeria when he eventually wins the elections and as such startups with this business should begin to prepare ahead. In a concise approach, it is objective to state that what Tinubu is bringing on board is no newer to the system we already have.

Investing in Tech

For Atiku Abubakar, a one-time vice president and the current presidential candidate for People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in his 115-page manifesto titled, “A Covenant with Nigerians”, there will be a holistic approach to drive educational, economic, and infrastructural structures hung on technology and innovations. To him, this is going to be a means to further continue the injection of technology in other economic sectors. Like his counterparts, he seemingly sees technology as the best way to address insecurity needs which will increase ICT related investments.

Regarding technology adoption, Atiku pressed in on promoting research in local science and technology through his establishment of a National Research and Innovation Fund which will have specified funding advantages for employer-based training schemes, trainers- support schemes, and grants for tech related ideas.

His interest also stretched into training and empowerment in critical tech areas like renewable energy, solar and wind technologies, nanotech, and Artificial Intelligence.

Unlike others, Atiku spreads his wings into policies merger wherein he talked about compacting regulatory bodies to reduce redundant structures. In his manifesto he intends for the Trade, and Investment to embody the Trademarks, Patents, and Designs Registry (TPDR), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), and Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to be merged into an agency concerned with Intellectual Property Rights. He also proposed the creation of a Technology Support Program (TSP) that will be funded by a Diaspora Bond. This he hopes will produce an expansive blockchain technology and crypto policy with an income generative focus for Nigeria.

In this manifesto is another wild articulation of hopes that are like what we have experienced as a country in the past.

This is because most of the proposal bench on surface ideas and for the few that held the Nigerian industry interest, it is quick to say that they lack sufficient details on implementation. For example, the merge idea of multiple agencies will further increase bureaucracy for tech startups and innovators in Nigeria as the Intellectual Property agency will run a monopoly kind of system that will further worsen what the industry is presently contending with. It is also observable that popular campaigns on infrastructural development are far-fetched in the political quarters. For Atiku, the standout idea is that of him recognising the blockchain potential, his acceptability of its monetary and generative power for the country and the people of Nigeria. This will go a long way in easing tensions around whether the ban on cryptocurrency will be lifted as these forms a part of the system.

Why Nigerians Should be Concerned

It is practical to state that most of the manifestos of these major aspirants have not clearly devised a strong and cushioning strategy for Nigerian tech players. This is because many of the listed ideas have still not dug deep into the protective corners of what facilitates a healthy tech industry both for techpreneurs and tech talents in the country.

Also, none of the aspirants clearly outlined policies and implementations to safeguard local and foreign investors instead what we find is them pushing the absorption model of winning over investors into the country. Aside from Obi who clearly gives a foreseeable hope in terms of his consumption-to-production economic strategy, what other aspirants are bringing on board are recycled ideas typical of the present government and this in no way is sufficient for techpreneurs to continue holding on to their staff.

It is also important to state that inflation and interest rates are principal drivers of the layoffs globally but even in the abrupt manifestos presented, many of which touched on these skeletally, there is no assured hope that going forward the investment ropes will be firmer for tech companies in the countries. This is because investors want to be sure of the generative potentials of their investments as well as they are concerned about the lifespan of running businesses in Nigeria. It is not enough for bills to be reviewed, what tech startups are asking for daily are policies that empower them to create and grow.

It is also alarming to identify that despite the dreamy manifestoes pushed forward by these presidential aspirants, none of them arrived at the point of up-scaling technology as a core economic diver in this present age. They all mentioned that they would infuse tech into almost all the sectors, but this infusion is a secondary motive – meaning, tech will be a secondary idea to drive the economy. This is not what is printable in other parts of the world where there are economic stability of some sort. Rather what is experienced in most of these thriving nations is the localisation of technology to advance productivity, innovation, and economic stability. If all of these are not factored into the reality of these coming rulers, what then will safeguard the tech companies when the economic realities begin to choke them the same way it is choking the big tech players like Amazon, Google, Alphabet, and others.

It therefore remains unarguable that the Nigerian tech industry will someday be hit with her share of the revolving recession. It is safe to say that even with the presidential aspirants contending for the number one seat in the country, we are only as safe as much as we can be because none of these aspirants has holistically mapped out a blueprint of maximum safety for the industry.

The knowledge that the Nigeria tech industry is an emerging one also reduces the pressure on us because presently the country and the continent of Africa – seem to have the future market for technology in the coming years due to her ownership of the youngest population in the world. If this is true, techpreneurs are to consistently live within their business means while scouting aggressively for continuous growth.

Source : Thisdayslive.com

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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.

READ ALSO: Understanding Nigeria Startup Act 

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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 By Elvis Eromosele

TECHDIGEST – The Nigerian telecommunications sector must have nine lives. No, it is not a cat. It is however almost always in a near constant mortal struggle with the forces that be – read, government and its agents. The fact that it’s still here means that it has somehow managed to survive, remained sustainable and even dared to thrive. It is a phenomenon that ought to be studied.

Every indicator shows that the telecom sector remains the bright spot in the nation’s weak economy. It drives socio-economic development, boosts productivity and contributes to improving the lives of citizens like no other sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted negatively on the global economy by precipitating lockdown and economic disruptions with transport, tourism and aviation sectors tumbling. The telecom sector however continued to “buga”. It saw an increase in voice service and massive growth of digital channels for daily routine activities ranging from telecommuting to entertainment and social engagements. The sector witnessed growth and saw huge profits as financial reports from major operators show.

The Nigeria Telecom sector is a gift that keeps on giving. It has witnessed strong growth in recent years and is expected to have continued growth over the foreseeable future. The growth in the sector, according to industry watchers, has been driven by the increasing population, growing demand for communication services, and rising adoption of smartphone services. Some experts have pointed to strong support by the regulatory authorities which in recent times has led to the licensing of the 5G network in the country – a feat some have called the first in Africa.

Investors in telecom operations are smiling at the bank. It is not surprising therefore that everyone wants a piece of the action, even the government.

It must be stated that the government collects the value-added tax, annual operating levies, licensing fees and duties among others. This is in addition to all the other statutory taxes including PAYE and withholding tax.

Now, there are reports that the Finance Minister, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, is actively pushing for another tax, a five percent excise duty on telecoms services. Most right-thinking Nigerians, including, interestingly, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have kicked against it. If a recent news report is to be believed, the finance minister is not backing down.

If the government is keen on milking the telecom sector, it should at least step up on its behalf and help tackle some of the long-standing issues that have held the sector back.

The challenges are not new. Many of them have plagued the sector since the liberalization of the industry. Industry experts are quick to point out the fact that these challenges are also opportunities when viewed through the right lenses.

Here are seven of the most pressing challenges, with what I hope are feasible solutions. The government should give it a look-in if doesn’t want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Difficulty in accessing long-term funds for the industry – The government must hasten to establish an ICT Bank. While it should be in the mold of the Agricultural Bank, it should operate like a venture capital entity. So, after due diligence, the ICT Bank will invest in tech starting with a clearly stated exit /pull-out date. I propose an initial take-off grant of N200 billion naira only.

Right of way – The goal of the right of way policies should not be revenue generation but to facilitate the speedy deployment of telecom infrastructure. In the short term, states can take a leaf from Ekiti State which reduced telecom’s right of way charges by 97 percent. For the long term, states should install road ducts on a build-and-lease basis. The federal government can set an example here by installing ducts on all new federal roads and leasing to operators based on an agreed realistic billing scheduled for usage.

Multiple taxations – Again, governments at all levels, need to stop seeing telcos as only cash cows. Efforts must be towards proper harmonization of taxes and levies and so make it uniform across every state and locality. This will undoubtedly aid the planning and deployment of services by operators.

Energy challenge – Yes, the telcos knew that Nigeria had a power problem when they paid for licenses in 2001. But who could have imagined that the issue will persist unresolved, for this long? Currently, the logistics of ensuring round-the-clock availability of power is a nightmare that keeps whole teams awake many a night. A straightforward solution is the establishment of energy parks to serve critical infrastructure. QED!

Local content – Some progress has been made here, especially through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP). To move forward the government and other corporations need to host local content locally. As a corollary, Nigeria must urgently adopt the doctrine of data sovereignty.

Multiple regulations – This is another problem that is almost as old as the industry itself. The NCC has done a lot of work here. Nigeria must explore a converged regulatory regime as the way out.

Capacity building – Human resources have always been an issue but the recent increase if the rate of migration has made it a mini-crisis. The Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and the NCC have their work cut out for them – bridge the gap between academia and industry via curriculum reform involving the industry and internships.

I’ll be the first to admit that these problems and solutions are not exhaustive. The NCC may want to consider calling a stakeholder forum to deliberate on the problems and proffer solutions. The white paper produced can now be the basis of engagement with the government and its relevant agencies.

For the government, the focus should not be only on sharing the existing telecom cake, but also on helping the industry bake a bigger cake.

Elvis Eromosele, a Corporate Communication professional and public affairs analyst lives in Lagos.

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By Zeenat O. Sambo

TECHDIGEST – On 18th May 2022, the federal government announced the approval of tax reliefs for tech startups. The news gave a euphoric feeling to Eddy Emmanuel and many other young innovators and entrepreneurs craving the opportunity to develop their innovations.

The approval will enable the implementation of strategies to encourage and support the development and growth of more Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs) in the country.

Emanuel who studied Animal Husbandry developed a platform for community engagement in pasturing, trading, and live breeding to eliminate open grazing which had led to conflicts between pastoralists and farmers. This has escalated into incessant attacks by so-called “unknown gunmen” causing mayhem in the communities.

Without a doubt, the introduction of these tax reliefs will allow him to conveniently introduce more Nigerians to adopt this improved and cost-effective digital system of pasturing without fear.

Bright Ubani and Uzor Chigozie Joshua, two pioneers who created a digital platform called Level Up, are pleased with the tax relief initiative. The goal of the platform is to promote a culture of free skills training among youths across the country. They started a community to community training but were stymied by taxes which frustrated their effort to contribute positively to their communities.

Similarly, Lade Omoremi, an aspiring waste recycling innovator, lamented that the taxes had discouraged her from nurturing her innovation into a profitable startup that will be of great benefit to her community.

Startups are organizations or projects at their early stage of operation which is created by an entrepreneur to find, develop, and validate a scalable business model. But startups in Nigeria are often overwhelmed by multiple taxes and levies when they venture to seek investors or begin operations.

As a key factor in the progress of developing countries, startups contribute to the standard of living of the local population by introducing new technologies and attracting foreign investment, as well as enabling local innovators to address local problems with their innovations.

To cut down the margin of unemployment, it is pertinent to recall that the federal government’s effort to engage many Nigerians in small and medium-scale enterprises has been a major concern over the years.

With the approval of tax reliefs for startups, more innovators will be able to take advantage of the incentive to build and grow profitable tech companies that will create jobs.

For instance startups like Carbon, Jumia, Konga, and others have helped to create over direct 3000 jobs in the country. According to Jobberman 2020 Digital Sector Report, Nigeria’s digital economy has the potential to create an average of 1.3 million tech-enabled jobs across all sectors by 2025, and the tax relief package will make it easier for this prediction to come into reality.

Yet many people are unaware of the extent of the tax reliefs and incentives that are available because of the absence of an awareness campaign.

As such, SMEs need to note that there are tax exemptions for small businesses with an annual turnover of less than N25 million. Startups in their early stages should be aware that a lower company income tax rate of 20 percent is granted to companies whose yearly turnover is between N25 million to N100 million.

There are various incentives for investors and startups involved in venture projects. Eligible startups enjoy up to 30 percent capital allowances on equity investments made by Venture Capital firms along with a capital gains tax exemption of up to 100 percent upon disposal of an equity interest.

Furthermore, in a bid to encourage the growth of the startup ecosystem, the federal government mandated companies to do business with startups on projects involving the central government or any of its agencies to enable them to thrive locally and internationally.

Most struggling startups believe that this tax relief package will enable them to revive and re-strategize into a viable enterprise that can thrive and grow at will.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) needs to fashion out a comprehensive awareness creation programme to enlighten startups on the available tax reliefs and how to access such incentives with ease.

Therefore, agencies like the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), and others should partner with NITDA for the efficient implementation of the tax reliefs.

Such a collective approach would spur more indigenous innovators and boost the growth of the startup ecosystems to sustain Nigeria’s thriving digital economy.

Zeenat O. Sambo
Wuye District, Abuja

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TECHDIGEST – The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has announced plans to begin ranking Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices (IPTTOs) around the country in order to foster demand-driven research.

The establishment of IPTTOs in the Nigerian knowledge institutions across the geopolitical zones of the Country was an initiative of NOTAP in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nations agency based in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to Director-General of NOTAP, Dr. DanAzumi Mohammed Ibrahim, the IPTTO initiative was to sensitize the Nigerian knowledge institutions on the importance of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) as well as the need to engage in market-driven research as against conventional research.

Ibrahim, who was speaking at a sensitization forum with the IPTTOs Coordinators on the ranking of IPTTOs, said the programme started in 2006 with the establishment of six centres and has progressed both in number and quality to 60 IPTTOs across the country.

READ ALSO: ITU Appoints Pantami To Lead World Summit On Information Society Forum 2022

He added that NOTAP was working around funding challenges to set up IPTTOs in all universities, polytechnics and research establishments in Nigeria.

Ibrahim observed that that the gap between academia and industry was being bridged through the establishment of IPTTO allowing Nigerian researchers to directly focus their research efforts on industrial needs.

Increasing local research contents will help reduce the heavy dependency on foreign research consumption and the huge impact on FOREX. High importation of foreign technologies discourages development of local capacities through IPTTOs, the NOTAP’s boss added.

To further strengthen Dr. Ibrahim’s position, the Director of Technology Acquisition and Research Coordination (TARC) department of NOTAP, Mrs. Carol Anie-Osuagwu said IPTTO ranking as well as its contribution to the advancement of science, technology and innovation (STI) remains critical to Nigeria’s development.

Source: ITedgenews 

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TECHDIGEST- THE Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the ministry’s effort, through a national strategy for competitiveness in raw materials, has led to the country’s ranking from 115 out of 140 countries by the World Economic Forum Assessment, 2018 to 2019.

He said this during the 27th quarterly meeting with management and staff of the ministry in Abuja.

The minister said that when he came on board, the ministry was in bad shape but this had been reversed through regular meetings with the management and staff.

He revealed that these meetings led to the creation of several policies among which five had been approved, while four were awaiting approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The minister also said that by 2019, the ministry won the Servicom award of Excellency and ranked best performing ministry in terms of service delivery.

READALSO: Over 75M Phone Lines Blocked, NIMC Overburdened Server Invalidates Linked NINs

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) by the presidential council under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, was also awarded the best in terms of Transparency in Service Delivery in all MDAs.

Onu also said that on January 31, the National Assembly met with 270 agencies and stakeholders out of which Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was recognised as the best in terms of 100 per cent remittance of tax to the federation account.

Onu also said the effort by the Anambra State government in promoting local content in the area of indigenous technology; industrialisation was another added advantage of the Executive Order policy.

In the same veìn, Dr Onu said the absence of Presidential Executive Order 5, led to the decline of the petroleum refineries as Nigerian engineers were not involved in the construction and repair of the refineries in the first place.

Onu stated this in his speech at the sensitisation workshop of the staff of the ministry on the full implementation of the Presidential Executive Order 5 in Abuja.

He noted the Executive Order was a revolutionary one aimed at mandating procuring entities to give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act of 2007 as well as the engagement of Nigerian professionals in areas where their requisite expertise is available, among others.

He disclosed that the essence of the Executive Order 5 was to ensure that Nigeria acquired technologies that would help in positioning the nation towards self-sufficiency.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Monilola Udoh, said that every average Nigerian must be aware of the Executive Order 5 in terms of skills and resources.

She further added that relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) and stakeholders should take the sensitisation exercise serious in order to transfer the knowledge acquired during the course of the workshop.

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TECHDIGEST – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has donated 100 Lenovo Desktop Computers and 50 HP Laptops to Federal University Dutse under their Procurement of Computer System for Universities program.

The Director General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa who was represented by Hannah Peter said the purpose of the donation is to improve e-Learning in the university.

While accepting the donation, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammed who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Art and Social Sciences, Prof. Lawan Shuaibu, thanked NITDA for the donation of the computers adding that it wil boost the e-learning program and the overall digitalisation agenda of the Vice- Chàncellor.

He decribed the DG as a very dynamic and focus driven individual who is in the forefront of bringing critical IT infratructure to Nigerian universities in order for them to keep pace with the 21st century adding that FUD is particularly grateful to the DG for the numerous collaborations especially in the agric sector under the Center for Agricultural Research and Extension Services (CARES) of the university.

Prof. Shuaibu said in this era of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ,universities have no option but embrace it in teaching , learning and research activities.

In a related development, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) also donated IT equipments to the University ICT Centre.

While presenting the equipments to the Vice Chancellor, NOTAP Representative, Engr. Jairus Omenka Ibu explained that this is part of the effort of NOTAP in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish IT offices in tertiary institutions adding that the Agency has recognized FUD and donated equipments to the University and the Agency will also take the full responsibility for the installation of the equipments.

In his response, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammed represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Services, Prof. Nura Muhammad Sani thanked the Agency for donating IT equipments to the University.

He said the equipments will assist the University to facilitate communication, enhance learning, and participation in national and international academic discourse, adding that the management has been working seriously to put the University in the best position in the area of ICT.

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TECHDIGEST – Revolutionary paradigm shifts owing to the robotics developments in Nigeria is continuously making new standpoints every now and then. With the help of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence, the field of technology is producing groundbreaking results every second.

Robotics involves the design, construction, operation, and use of robots to perform tasks done traditionally by human beings. It is the field of technology that develops physical robots or machines as substitute for humans and replicate human actions.

Robots are commonly used in the automobile, construction, and manufacturing industries to perform simple repetitive tasks. They are programmable machines that usually carry out a series of actions autonomously or semi-autonomously.

However, robots have expanded beyond their original uses of handling monotonous task to perform tasks like fighting fires, cleaning homes, hospitality support and assisting with complex medical surgeries.

As technologies progress, robots will become smarter, more flexible and more energy efficient thereby playing a focal role in various industries outside the manufacturing sector such as emergency search-and-rescue missions, landmine detectors, law enforcement and security, among many others.

Recently, three students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA) Ondo State invented a robotic dog to help tackle the escalating insecurity problem across Nigeria’s States and the FCT.

This invention by the team of Aiyegbeni John Oshoke, Loiki Charles Olalekan, and Adeyi Stephen Olabisi, from the department of Physics and Electronics, exemplifies the application of robotics in the area of personal security, especially, considering the increasing threats to peace and safety of people as a result of the insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, ceaseless killing of people within the rural and urban areas of the country.

The inventors, while speaking to TechDigest say the robotic dog has a combination of motion and sound sensors that enables it to bark in the same manner a real dogs do when they notice a strange movement or hear a sharp sound within their immediate environment.

When the robotic dog senses a movement or sharp sound, it starts barking to alert the owner that something is happening around his/her location. At such times, all the owner has to do is to connect his/her device to the robotic dog.

Owners only need to connect their device to the robotic dog and will be able to see everything happening with the vicinity without putting themselves at risk. The owner can also record and take pictures of whatever is happening at that moment for evidence.

This means the owner simply connects his/her device to the robotic dog, to see everything happening around the robotic dog and then proceed to capture and record everything happening as proof.

One unique feature of the robotic dog, that sets it apart from a real dog, is that it can interact with the owner and save him/her from suffering any threat to personal safety.

The team said: “The major reason for this robotic dog is to tackle security issues in the country, unlike a real dog that cannot interact with the owner, this robotic dog can interact with the owner and save the owner from putting himself/herself in danger.

The team of robotic dog inventors, explained that with the help of their innovation, the owner does not need to go outside to see why his/her dog is barking, thereby keeping his/her life in any risk.

Despite the innovative effort of this team of inventors, they have several obstacles militating against the successful development and commercialisation of their revolutionary invention.

The major challenges facing the tech ecosystem in Nigeria include from the unfriendly environment, lack of access to funding and investors, poor internet services quality and power supply.

These young inventors are calling on public institutions, organisations, and individuals to invest in this innovation which they believe can help tackle insecurity because they are confident that the robotic dog is “a very good and big innovation’’ which they expect the government and some big firms to invest in.

As such, the robotic dog inventors solicited the support of the federal government through relevant agencies like National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and private enterprises to invest in the initiative to reduce, if not eliminate, the worrisome level insecurity in the country.

The team called on the federal government to take advantage of this ground-breaking project to invest in the innovative talents of the youth to come up with practical solutions to the current problems facing Nigeria in different sectors.

However, the challenges faced by tech ecosystem in the country all lie within the environment, and so, their possible solutions can be sourced from the same environment.

The government needs to be consistent with regulatory policies that would encourage robotics tech startups for a change, and not constitute a killjoy working hard to frustrate the talents that should sprout from the country’s tech ecosystem.

Evidently, the government has a role to play in improving internet quality and electricity supply so that robotic and artificial intelligence companies could save cost and achieve growth for their businesses.

A major solution to the problem of paucity of funds would be the creation of more fintech companies that would financially include all robotics tech firms in the country.

As a matter of national priority, the government needs to starts investing in the youths, so that they can come up with ideas that would take our nation to a higher level of sustainable development comparable to other developing and advanced economies.

In conclusion, I call on federal government and relevant agencies like NITDA, NOTAP to create a viable programmes to provide a collaborative ecosystem for potential tech investors and tech startups to drive the nation’s digital economy because this innovation needs to be encouraged, as we embrace the digital transformation.

Abbas Badmus is a Staff Writer with Techdigest and write from abbasbadmus@gmail.com
FHA Lugbe, Abuja

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