7.9 Local Content In Software and Hardware Development The increasing focus on local content development as a mechanism for improving local skills, and generating sustainable jobs for Nigerians is a core aspect of Federal Government of Nigeria’s transformation agenda across numerous critical sectors, including the ICT sector. 7.9.1 Situation Analysis ICT local content (including software and hardware) remains grossly under developed in Nigeria. Although many reasons are adduced for this - including the high cost of production and scarcity of expertise – the fact remains that there is an over-dependence on foreign importation of software and hardware and this has led to diminished opportunity for domestic economic empowerment, and contributed to limited capacity building within the context of ICT. In addition, given the quantum of hardware devices, and software applications imported into, and used within Nigeria, there has been considerable drain on Nigeria’s foreign exchange. Therefore, there is the urgent need to boost domestic participation in the ICT industry by incentivizing local hardware and software companies to increase local content. 7.9.2 Software Development The software industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and Nigeria can benefit tremendously from developing its own domestic software industry to create applications for aspects of human endeavour including Agriculture (e-Agriculture), Business (e-Business), Education (eLearning), Governance (e-Government), Health (e-Health) etc. This can cater for both domestic and export markets. 7.9.3 Objectives vi. To position Nigeria as a leader in software development where the software industry becomes a major contributor to national wealth; vii. To provide incentives for the growth of the software industry; viii. To promote software development education in the country; ix. To encourage promotion of software development and content for local and export markets; !"#$%&"'()*+(,%'$-.(/(0120( ( ( ,"34(59(