Mr Muyiwa Ogungboye, the Chief Executive Officer of e.Stream Networks, a licensed broadband  provider, has called for effective implementation of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policies to boost local content.

Ogungboye made the call on Thursday at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) quarterly forum in Lagos.

He spoke on the theme “Local Content Development in Nigeria’s ICT Sector: Stimulant for National Economic Recovery”.

According to him, there should be a strategic plan that will yield productive activities to drive the policies for a conducive ICT ecosystem.

“There should be speedy implementation of the plan, creation of evaluation and enforcement unit that will see to adoption of local content in the country.

“There should be encouragement of knowledge and skills that are needed to adopt local content,” Ogungboye said.

He called for  establishment of ICT parks which would be saddled with  manufacturing of ICT tools.

Ogungboye urged the three tiers of government to give priority attention to the development of ICT through adequate allocations in their respective annual budgets.

He advocated a review of the nation’s education curriculum in a way that students would be encouraged to study science subjects at early stage.

Earlier, the President of NITRA, Mr Emma Okonji, said that attention to Financial Technology (FinTech) had led to the growth of FinTechs and more technology startups

He added that it had helped to develop home-grown technology solutions with best  quality.

He noted that the technology solutions were commercially viable and addressed specific and organisational challenges.

Okonji called for  support and patronage of the solutions by government agencies.

He described preference for foreign software and hardware solutions as detrimental to locally-developed technologies.

“If the right support is given to FinTechs and technology startups, it will boost local production that will enhance job creation.

“It will also help government to save huge revenues that would have left the country,” Okonji said.

He also called on governments to protect local content development.

He lauded the National Information Technology Development Agency for its local content guidelines designed to develop a strong indigenous ICT industry. (NAN)