By Mohammed Mohammed
The Director General of the National Office for the Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. DanAzumi Ibrahim, on Monday unveiled the indigenous Software for the establishment of Database for Nigerian Professionals (DNP) for the implementation of the Presidential Executive Order N0.5 (EO5).
President Muhammadu Buhari in February 2018 approved and signed the Order as policy aimed at engaging indigenous professionals in the execution of projects for improvement of indigenous skills as well as protection of indigenous firms.
The EO5 seeks to give preference to Nigerian professionals in the execution of government contract and projects in Science, Engineering and Technology to gradually develop their technical capacities to be able to favourably compete with their foreign counterparts in technical competence.
The DG in his overview of the order said: “This initiative of the Nigerian government is revolutionary as it will set the nation on the path of viable and sustainable economic growth with rapid transformation using the instruments and platforms of Science Technology and Innovation (STI)
“This is key to improving local content in public procurement with Science, Engineering and Technology components.”
He said, NOTAP engaged an indigenous Information Technology company Cagewox Dot Net Limited which has developed a robust central platform/data that captures, stores, analysis and provides search and reporting capacities on the profile and competences( qualifications, certificates, experience, achievements etc) of Nigerian professionals in Science, Engineering and Technology related fields.
The aim of the order is to ensure that all “procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007”.
According to Ibrahim, the Office shall develop, maintain and regularly update an expert’s database. Such include expertise in Science, Engineering, Technology and other fields.
The Ministry of Interior, he added is also mandated to take into consideration the NOTAP database together with other similar data from the Nigerian Academy of Engineering; Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board; Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation as well as other relevant Ministries in determining the availability of local skilled manpower in Science, Technology and Innovation before the grant of Expatriate Quota.
The Executive Order 5 also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from issuing visas to foreign nationals whose skills are readily available in Nigeria. In other words, the order will preclude foreigners from taking contract jobs that Nigerians have the competence and capabilities to handle. This is in a bid to not only protect and sustain indigenous competences but also to further build capacities as well as enhance their financial base.
The president directed MDAs to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects. He however, noted that where expertise is lacking, procuring entities will give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous skills development prior to the award of such contracts.
The companies would be required to employ Nigerians to understudy their foreign experts in order to enable them acquire the requisite skills for the eventual takeover of the expatriate positions by a Nigerian counterpart.
According the presidential directive, the only condition to which a foreign national shall be considered for contract is where it is certified that such expertise is not available in Nigeria as at the point the contract is being awarded.
In a remark, the software developer Charles Ofefuele, in his presentation said that Nigerians have enormous competences in software development and have already started exporting software to other African countries.
