LAGOS: The National Information Technology Agency of Nigeria is canvassing for increased local content in the cyberspace for Nigerian businesses and governments. Prof. Cleopas Angaye, the Director-General, NITDA, said on Monday that it was imperative for the country to hoist its flag in cyberspace through the adoption of donating by Nigerian companies and businesses in hosting their websites as well as their mailing addresses. Angaye recently told Information and Communcations Technology stakeholders that the critical role of ICT in modern economies across the globe had made it mandatory for countries to actively participate in the cyberspace. “Every effort at making Nigeria an integral part of this new trend must be adequately supported by all stakeholders in the ICT industry in the country,” he said. He said the issue of increasing Nigeria's local content and advancing the patronage of ‘Made-in-Nigeria' ICT products and services could not be over-emphasized. Angaye further stated that there is the need for standards that engender uniformity in order to improve Nigeria's local content in the cyberspace. NITDA, he said, was currently working on requisite standards and guidelines for government websites. The standards, according to him will soon be released and enforced. NITDA has been in the forefront of advocating for Nigerian firms and government agencies, departments and ministries to patronize local software. In pursuant of this the agency got a directive signed by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo government in 2005 directing MDAs to use local software.
