FG told to patronise local IT firms
The Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria (ITAN) has urged the Federal Government to patronize only local companies that are properly licensed to practice Information Technology in the country.
The National President of the association, Egnr Olutayo Adeniyi, made the call yesterday in Abuja at a news conference.
According to him, while Nigeria has adopted a local content policy in the sector which requires that all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) making IT goods and services procurements, must ensure that 30 percent is locally sourced, the
The Coca-Cola Company has completed the acquisition of Chi Limited after three years of 40 per cent investment. In a statement by the President of Coca-Cola, West Africa Business unit, Peter Njonjo, at a press briefing, he said Coca-Cola Company in 2016 acquired a 40 per cent investment in Chi Limited and the company has extended its minority investment to a full ownership by acquiring the remaining 60 per cent making the acquisition complete.
While Njonjo was revealing the policy is not fully implemented.
“We call on governments to obtain the register of Licensed IT providers from the registry of Computer Professional Registration Council’s (CPN) and patronize only those companies that are properly licensed to practice IT in the country,” he said.
He said that Nigerian economy can be made more competitive to provide jobs and generate wealth through a careful deployment and mainstreaming of ICTs in the critical sectors of the economy and society.
The Vice President ITAN, Dr Yunusa Z. Yau, said that Nigeria has human capital skills to compliment the IT initiative, adding that the country does not lack the procurement skills.
How Coca-Cola acquired Chi Limited
reasons for the acquisition, he said Chi Limited like Coca-Cola was a beverage company and it complements the existing portfolio of the company, which will also aid the acceleration of the expansion of the Chi products into the global market.
He said “The acquisition is a testament to the commitment of the company being a total beverage company, and the desire to grow the Chi products into a global billion dollar brands, that will meet the needs of the customers satisfactorily.”
According to him, Chi Limited would continue to operate as an independent company with no interference from the Coca-Cola but would build the company in a way that will make it experience wider range of products distribution internationally.
“We will not tamper with the brand in any form, the management of the Chi Limited will operate as before but rather we will grow both the Chi and the Hollandia units of the products and support Chi management team in building on the company’s remarkable heritage and achievement, while using the coca-cola system to replicate their success in more markets across Africa,” he said.