Over the years, technology is gradually taking its roots in Nigeria, thanks to key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Communications, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
However, there is more ground to be broken in the advancement of technology in Nigeria, and for the NCC and the ministry of communications to achieve set goals.
TheNewsGuru analysed key policy documents of the NCC and that of the ministry of communications and presents here area investors can exploit to investing in the technology landscape of the country.
Technology investment opportunities in Nigeria cut across but not limited to broadband, end-user devices, value-added services, open data initiative, off-grid renewable energy system, postal services, broadcast infrastructure and devices and innovation and entrepreneurship.
The broadband tech investment opportunities are available in the area of deployment of terrestrial fibre-optic networks (including fibre-over-powerline), deployment of wireless broadband infrastructure, satellite networks (in particular those providing connectivity to rural areas), and purchase of two additional satellites as backup for the Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT).
For end-user devices, the investment opportunites available are in assembly and manufacturing of personal computers, laptops and mobile devices (tablets, phones etc.) and after-sales support (Digital Service Centre).
Value-added services opportunities are in the area of data centre deployment and management, application hosting/cloud computing, business continuity/disaster recovery, and Internet service provision.
The investment opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship include the establishment and management of incubators/innovation hubs, software development for job creation and exports, venture capital/private equity investments, outsourcing capabilities for ICT jobs, and the establishment of an ICT Development Bank.
For broadcast infrastructure and devices, opportunities available are in the area of terrestrial and satellite digital signal distribution, supply of broadcast equipment, manufacturers of end-user devices; installers and providers of after-sale support, and content aggregation, production, distribution etc.
The postal service is open for postal operations, provision of retail financial services (e.g. Post Banks), development and management of digital inclusion centres offering access to the Internet, business productivity tools etc, and technical support and capacity building for postal service staff to achieved a transformed NIPOST capable of bridging the digital divide.
Other opportunities available in the technology space include off-grid renewable energy system for Ministry; and open data initiative that entails technical support for the implementation of Open Data initiative across Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies, including cascading down to States and Local Government MDAs.
Others are Establishment of highly professional ICT University in Nigeria, developing the Nigerian software and innovation ecosystem that entails technical support and capacity building for Ministry and relevant Agency in order to achieve the replication of the Silicon Valley experience in Software and Innovation Ecosystem in Nigeria, Spectrum Management that entails technical support and capacity building for Ministry and relevant Agency in order to achieve efficient management of scarce natural resource, and ICT in Government that entails e-Government masterplan implementation and capacity Building for ICT staff to ensure effective deployment of ICT across the entire Federal Government service including providing support to state and Local Government levels where necessary.