The role of software in the developing African economy and the road ahead for the software community

Deji Eniojukan

CSA, SiNet Technologies Inc.

President/CEO CoolGadgets Nig. Ltd.

Table of Contents• Background• Software in Africa

– The Past– The Present– The Future

• Lessons from other countries– American Software Revolution– Indian Software Revolution

• Challenges in Africa• Opportunities in Africa• Conclusion• Q & A Session

BackgroundSoftware is the lifeblood of modern day

technologyAfrica is mainly a consumer Africa has a huge consumer market for

software-driven products and solutionsAfrica also has the talents and human

resources to meet most of its future software needs locally

Software in Africa – The Past

Most major software solutions so far have been imported

Significant amount of talents have been lost to migration to other countries

Software entrepreneurship has not been encouraged so far

Educational research & Business still has a major disconnect

Main focus has been on Telecoms & Networking due to market demand

Software in Africa – The Present

• The African technology evolution– Telecoms & Communication infrastructure– Computer accessibility and internet use– Value-added software solutions

• Banking

• Commerce

• Education

• Collaboration

• Entertainment

• Automating everyday processes

Software in Africa – The Future

• Africa in the new frontier for technology penetration due to saturation in other economies of the world

• GSM has proven that technology can be integrated and accepted in the African society despite all the odds

• Over the next 5 years, technology will transform a lot of other sectors of the African society

• Software is the lifeblood of technology…

Lessons from other countriesThe American Software Revolution

• Commitment to research and innovation

• Synergy between business & academia

• Solid communications infrastructure

• Pervasiveness of computer ownership

• Business demand for automation

• Aggressive growth of online community

• Advent of eCommerce and eCollaboration

Lessons from other countriesThe Indian Software Revolution

• Train young engineers

• Export skills to markets in need

• Return experience to local market

• Encourage local market development

• Meet needs of local companies

Challenges in Africa

• Lack of infrastructure

• Lack of support

• Import Complex (foreign is better)

• Shortage of opportunities

• Lack of Focus on developing upcoming talents

Opportunities in Africa

• African market can sustain a vibrant & active software industry

• Africa has the potential to be a major exporter of technology due to low cost of labor and caliber of talents

• Recent initiatives around “local content” sourcing will finally force multinational and other major organization to seriously look inwards for solutions

Conclusion

• To get involved – acquire relevant software

skills in chosen area of interest

• Be Diversified – Increases your value

• Start low and work your way up

• Be focused and perseverant – It takes time

• Identify your strengths and develop them

• Work Hard – really!!!

Questions