As information and communication technology
(ICT) companies in the country jostle for a fair
share of the supply of 500,000 computers to
empower Nigerian youths in the federal
government-sponsored NPower project, some
local firms have accused the office of Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo of trying to favour a
foreign firm and its proxy.
The NPower programme is an ambitious project
of the President Muhammadu Buhari
government which hopes to buy 500,000
computers for the 500,000 unemployed
graduates it is about to recruit and deploy to
schools and other sectors. The Office for
Nigerian Content in ICT as well as the National
Information Technology Development Agency
(NITDA) have voiced their preference for the
patronage of local computer manufacturers in
the course of executing the project, arguing that
it would not only arrest capital flight but also
help to create jobs within the country.
However, some members of the Certified
Computers Manufacturers of Nigeria (CCMON),
the umbrella body of indigenous computer
manufacturers, have accused the office of vice
president of orchestrating a plot to award the
contract to a foreign firm through its Nigerian
proxy.
Impeccable presidency sources said three firms
namely: Brian Systems, Zinox and Softcom, had
been shortlisted in the bid process.
While Brian and Zinox are members of CCMON,
the third company is said to be fronting for
Samsung of South Korea.
Industry sources said they have information that
some persons in the vice president’s office are
hatching a plot to award the contract to the
agent of the foreign firm which has no known
pedigree and experience in delivering critical
jobs of this magnitude.
The plot to award the contract to a foreign
company against the ongoing campaign of the
Buhari government to patronise local
manufacturers has enraged some indigenous
firms.
A chief executive of an indigenous company
(name withheld) which was not short-listed in
the bid, said he was not bothered by the fact
that his company did not make it in the bid
process but he did not hide his disgust at the
news that the promoters of the NPower project
are contemplating awarding the contract to a
foreign company.
“It will be a disaster and disgrace to the
reputation of President Buhari if the office of
the vice president goes ahead to involve a
foreign company in a project in which there are
qualified and certified indigenous companies
who can effectively deliver world class products
and support services. Giving the job or any part
thereof to a foreign firm will only help to grow
the economy of that country, create jobs for its
youths while the Nigerian economy continues to
shrink with attendant job losses. Whoever that is
scheming to involve a foreign company in the
deal is an enemy of Nigeria,” he said.
The federal government’s Npower project seeks
to empower and engage Nigerian youths and
build a new legion of technology-savvy
Nigerians.
Osinbajo while promoting the programme
recently at a forum, said: “The key to change
and our future prosperity lies in innovation and
is critical to our development.”
He said government would establish an
Innovation Fund this year that would deploy
significant resources for the aim of creating
opportunities for the youths to access fund for
innovation and entrepreneurship.
He highlighted other plans as follows:
Establishment of technology innovation hubs
across the country; two super hubs (in Lagos
and Abuja) and six regional hubs in the six geo-
political zones in partnership with some major
technology companies; 65,000 young Nigerians
to be trained in hardware and software services
and in animation; create a reservoir in
technology capacity that can be exported
annually like the case of India; and bursary
award to 100,000 STEM undergraduates
developing their interest in programming, robotic
and animation technology, in addition to
deploying technology in the training of the
500,000 teachers that are expected to be
employed under the social investment scheme
of government this year. Source, this day
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