Despite various initiatives already been taken in Nigeria towards becoming a major economic bloc by 2020, the Federal Government has been told to look at the economic gains derivable in local apps development in the country, ADEYEMI ADEPETUN writesMORE than ever before, the Federal government has been told to divest the economy. The present concentration on petroleum economy in Nigeria, according to experts, is not the future for a country, whose largest populations are the youths.Suffix to say that, meaningful engagements of the youths could help the country achieve the much desired economic growth.Moreso, the Information and Communications industry (ICT), to experts have a critical role to play in the unfolding Nigeria's emerging economy. Aside the growth brought about by the proliferations of mobile phones in the country in the last decade, experts are of the opinion that indigenous software application development could also be a money spinner for Nigeria and position the country strategically on the world map.Besides, experts posited that in the 21st century economy, no nation can succeed without a framework for constructive investment, incubation, development and mastery of its indigenous software knowledge base.According to them, the large global demand for innovative software products and services, made it a vital window for the country to launch itself into a core ICT production country like India did many years ago.With the impending mobile convergence, experts argued that the platform held the ace for Nigeria's budding youths in terms of software development.Therefore, to them, stimulating local content growth through application development is of paramount importance, considering the facts that ICT developments at different levels will be central to Nigeria's emancipation.Speaking at the weekend in Calabar, Cross River state at the first National Software Conference and Competition organised by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), with the theme: 'A Framework for Software as a National Imperative for 21st Century Nigeria', the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said it has become highly imperative for the country to use software development as a tool for poverty reduction, job creation and economic development.The minister, who was represented by an Executive Director at the National Information and Technology Development Agency, Mr. Emeka Ezekwesili, urged that the country must leverage adequately on ICT to drive Vision 20:2020 goals, stressing that software development model for the country must be domesticated to reflect understanding of the local needs and environment.Lending credence to the need to leverage ICT for development in the country, ministers of Information and National Planning, Mr. Labaran Maku and Dr. Shamsudeen Usman respectively, while been hosted in Calabar by Governor Liyel Imoke at weekend also agreed that the future of Nigeria lies greatly in diversifying the economy.Indeed, Maku said any country looking at petroleum as future of Nigeria was making a great mistake. According to him, in the next couple of decades, oil will be a non-issue, there was need to look at another direction so that, we don't get stranded in the future.Maku posited that the present global system is focused on facilitating the use of ICT to meet up with the challenges of creating jobs; boosting economy; earning foreign currencies; security among others.'I will say critically here, that Nigeria's adoption and usage of ICT cannot be overemphasised, not even now that we crave to become a major economic bloc in the world. ICT is critical. Software development will do the magic for Nigeria.To Usman, articulating a common strategy for Vision 20:2020 in the country, there was need for Nigeria to shift focus now from the oil economy and embrace other sectors adequately.He said too much dependence on the oil sector has hindered the country greatly from exploring what other sectors can contribute to boost Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product, and increase the per capital income of the citizens.To him, sectors including the Information and Communications Sector (ICT), education, Agriculture among others, should be explored to lift the country from its present state.Specifically, he informed that, ICT has a place in the transformation agenda of the country, stressing that, President Goodluck Jonathan created the new ICT ministry, so that it can have real importance and recognition and contribute meaningfully to economic development.Governor Imoke boosted the importance of software development, when he said that, if the software sector is well harnessed is capable of generating over N300 billion yearly to government coffers.He posited that, Nigeria must drive the vision of leveraging ICT initiatives by creating a knowledge base economy, distinct from the present status. 'This knowledge economy would also catalyse the goal of achieving the Vision 20:2020 objectives.'According to him, the time has come for the country to shift attention away from the usual Oil driven economy and focus on other areas of development, such as the one created by ICT.To ISPON president, Dr. Chris Uwaje, software technology is the cement that holds the world together and that no nation will succeed without earning and mastering its development, application and service dynamics.The ISPON president noted that as the demand for application software increases around the world''accelerated by its diversify and potential capability to efficiently resolve complex development problems, technologically unconscious nation such as ours, will sooner or later, find herself caught-up and entangled in the consumer addicted spider web'aided and abetted by our current attitude embedded in 'Software Thinking Poverty' (STP).'Uwaje said there was need to build software skill capacities and provide a sustainable interface between education and the industry, stressing that, this development would help to create more jobs and engage more youths in the country.Meanwhile in Lagos recently, the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, Bola Akingbade at the MTN Ideas forum for app developers, said that the telecommunications firm has opened up its network platform to support locally developed applications adding that fast-growing portfolios of mobile apps would be fuelled essentially by an efficient developer ecosystem.According to him, MTN would facilitate access to over 50 million mobile phone users in the country.This, according to him would enable developers monetize their ideas. The telecoms company assured that with only 10 million subscribers spending incremental N50 per month on a developer's app, every mobile application developer can become a billionaire in one year. The CMO further explained MTN's focus would be to build a committed and vibrant community of local developers by providing a platform for ideas generation and more importantly assisting local developers monetize their skills. 'Applications have emerged as a fundamental driver of enabling lifestyle and productivity as consumers want to access relevant content from PCs, laptops, mobile phones and even in-car systems.'The increasing popularity of mobile applications (mobile apps) has driven a need for telecoms operators to start focusing on reducing the barriers to adoption.'Meanwhile at prize presentations to some indigenous app developers by Nokia in Lagos, the Head of Nokia's Ecosystem Developer Experience (EDX), Teemu Kiijarvi said there was need to for the mobile phone company to demonstrate its commitment to supporting local developers in building innovative applications on its proprietary platform ' the Nokia store.According to him Nokia's decision to support developers was based on the need to have a rich ecosystem of exciting locally built applications to suit the needs of Nigerians. He disclosed that recently, Nokia organized free three-day training for over 200 Nigerian developers.Kiijarvi said Nokia's new monetization opportunities for developers were tailored for local markets and include integrated operator billing with 112 operators in 36 markets, more than 25 times more operator billing integrations than Nokia's nearest competitor.According to industry watchers, apps create an exciting and elevating feeling of unconstrained sense of belongingness and being in touch with the world. Mobile handsets, according to them are getting smarter and more accessible because of increasing availability of ultra low cost smartphones with improved user interface. They also argue that data usage is growing tremendously thus bringing more Nigerians online via the mobile screen. However, there is very limited local mobile content in the country, which according to industry analysts presents a massive opportunity.
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