A Software Developer, Mr Austin Agbakor, on Friday urged Nigerians to accept locally-made software as they were just as good as imported ones.
Agbakor, the Founder, Software Shop Ltd., made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said that locally-produced software were of internationally-accepted standard but faced the challenge of acceptance by the Nigerian public.
According to him, developers in Nigeria are already developing software but it has to be accepted by the government and the people before we talk of international acceptability.
“When you talk of meeting international standards, it is already there but there is need for the software to be appreciated within.
“It is only when it has been appreciated locally that we can then talk of international acceptability.
“This is because no one will appreciate what you have if you do not appreciate and promote it,’’ Agbakor said.
The developer said that there were prospects in the software development, especially applications that would promote data gathering and security challenges in the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government to support indigenous software developers and to promote what they had developed.
According to the software developer, most foreign software imported into the country were not of better standards than indigenous software.
“Support is paramount. It is the support given to the developers in those countries that make them get higher patronage and appreciation,’’ he said.
Agbakor noted that apart from support and patronage, another challenge for the subsector was non-availability of power.
He lamented that there had been little or no government support in the provision of basic amenities, specifically electricity.
The business developer noted that electricity is essential for the industry to thrive.
“There are prospects in the industry but we need to be encouraged through patronage and provision of basic amenities,’’ Agbakor said.
NAN reports that the Software Shop, is a provider of integrated Information Technology solutions for businesses across several industries.
It is dedicated to leveraging emerging technologies to provide the highest level of quality products and services.
