Minister Pledges to Collaborate with Computer Traders on Training

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu has assured computer traders in Lagos of closer collaboration between the ministry and the traders particularly in the area of training on software development.

Adebayo gave the assurance in Lagos recently, when he paid a courtesy visit to the entire body of the computer traders, under the auspices of Computer And Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN). The ministers’ assurance was based on the requests of the traders, through their President, Mr. Ojikutu Adeniyi.

The CAPDAN president in his address, listed several demands, among which were collaboration and trading.

According to Adeniyi, there was need for the ministry to facilitate the training of technicians among the traders abroad, given their practical skills in computer software and hardware. Adeniyi said the training would make the technicians in the Lagos Computer Village attain international standard for the execution of their works locally.

He said the ministry should collaborate with CAPDAN to build incubation centres for more training of the technicians.

According to him, the ministry needs to inculcate into its programme, recognition for the informal sector like the Computer Village.

“We need to drive content in the ICT sector, so as to develop more made in Nigeria products. The ministry should help us facilitate free broadband access in Computer Village, to enable traders and visitors to the Computer Village stay connected to the Internet, each time they are within the market premises for any transactions.

“We are also requesting for funding that will facilitate research in Information and Communications (ICT) that will geared towards developing the Nigeria based software,’’ Adeniyi said.

According to him, the Computer Village is a large gathering of hardworking Nigerians who are driven by passion for trade and technology development.

He said the Computer Village had in the past 20 years, contributed immensely to the growth of the Nigerian ICT sector, and the Nigerian economy.

The Computer Village market hub has a large number of university graduates that are contributing immensely to job creation, technical skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria.

Computer Village has over N1.5 billion turn over everyday in online and offline sales, with over 3,500 Small and Medium a Enterprises (SMEs), Adeniyi said.

“Our hub is referred to as the hardware capital of Africa, based on the qualities of hardware solutions we provide,’’ he said.

Responding, Shittu said the ministry is aware of the valuable contributions the hub to the Nigerian economy and would do everything possible to assist the traders, especially in local content development and further skills training.

He said the ministry would do all within its power to ensure local production of computer and telecommunications devices, so that Nigeria will not continue to remain a dumping ground of all manners of computer hardware and accessories.

Shittu however called for self - regulation of CAPDAN, in order to tame the sharp practices of some traders who rake delight in cutting corners, just to defraud government and buyers who visit the market to buy computer hardware, software and their accessories.