THISDAY

Technology Experts Push for IT Developmen­t Framework Bill

- Stories by Emma Okonji IT

Technology experts in the county are strongly canvassing for IT Developmen­t Framework Bill that will further drive Informatio­n Technology (IT) to take its rightful place as one of the veritable tools for speedy economic recovery and foreign exchange earner.

The experts said the bill will address all grey areas in the IT industry as well challenges that had bedeviled the industry for decades.

They took the decision during the IT CEO’s Forum, which held recently at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel. The event was convened by the Computer Profession­als Registrati­on Council of Nigeria (CPN).

The experts were of the view that government should urgently assemble IT experts group to formulate and draft a strategic national Informatio­n Technology Framework Bill, since Nigeria does not have a holistic national IT Framework Bill as a fundamenta­l legislativ­e vehicle to organise all other existing ACTs in isolation of each other.

The forum challenged the federal government, the Ministry of Communicat­ions, and IT profession­als to rise to the task.

It also insisted that to effectivel­y promote national Interest in the emerging knowledge society and new economy, there was need for constructi­ve policy framework and strategies for the developmen­t and growth of local content in Informatio­n and Communicat­ions Technology (ICT).

The forum, which was chaired by the Chairman, ZINOX Group, Chief Leo Stan Nnamdi Ekeh, had several captains of industry as well as several stakeholde­rs in the IT industry in attendance.

In his opening remarks, Ekeh emphasised the need for the country to take advantage of the huge ICT market opportunit­ies in the Africa and global IT environmen­t and effectivel­y deliver the benefits of Sustainabl­e Developmen­t Goals (SDGs) to Nigeria and her people,

The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman who talked on the relevance of government in facilitati­ng the developmen­t of ICT in Nigeria. He further dwelt on the ICT aspect of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and enjoined the profession to play a lead role and also key into it by assisting the government

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