Software: As Sustainable Intellectual Property for the Development of Nigeria

WELCOME ADDRESS BY CHRIS UWAJE (FNCS) PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE OF SOFTWARE PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA (ISPON) ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESIDENT DINNER 2014. VENUE: SHERATON HOTEL & TOWERS, IKEJA, LAGOS. FEB. 28, 2014

Theme: “Software: As Sustainable Intellectual Property for the Development of Nigeria”

FOCUS: Software Nigeria: Innovate or Perish?

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our President Dinner 2014 – and indeed a special honour to welcome the representatives of the Hon. Minister of Com Tech and His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River State, Board and DG-NITDA, President of CPN and NCS respectively, Provost College of Fellows, event Chairman Engr. Alfred Okoigun – GMD/CEO Arco Petrochemical Engineering Co. Ltd ably represented by Mr. John Nejoh – ED Finance Arco Petrochemical Engineering Co. Ltd, our Keynote Speaker Mrs. Fatumata Soukouna – Managing Director of Soft Solutions Limited, Captains of the IT profession and industry and our respected Gentlemen of the Press. At this challenging and significant moment of our national development, we are faced with the task of articulating and mastering our IT strategy as an effective response to the emerging Information Society (IS).

If Peace-Engineering is central to this welcome address, this is, because it is a strategic import of creativity for national development. Fact is, there can be no sustainable and meaningful development without innovative peace architecture.   I am just wondering if anyone of us here saw Kakadu? Here again is another valid evidence of knowledge Software – out of Africa! For a very long time, Africans (and Nigerians in particular) have been indoctrinated, intimidated and confused about Software Engineering Knowledge and capability in the digital realm.  Kakadu – the exceptionally breathtaking musical-play by bold Nigerians led by Uche Nwokedi (SAN), the Executive Producer of the cast, has once again broken the ice of the mystery behind that thought-process. Above all, Kakadu demystified the erroneous view and perception of inferiority of local software knowledge content – especially at the innovative technology levels.

Kakadu – though already acclaimed as an award winning musical, is simply a master-piece of knowledge scripting aptly described by the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) as “the story of a people, the music, the social life and the sights and Sounds of Lagos”. In my opinion, ‘Kakadu is an innovative Statement & CODE of a generation’. Just like Madiba who represents the Chief Priest of “Knowledge Software – Out of Africa”. It is therefore unacceptable to affirm that Africa/Nigeria cannot develop a functional software – which sums up that Africans cannot think logically. The most remarkable feature of Kakadu is, its scholarly focus and adventure on “Peace Engineering and Nation Building” We who are assembled here today, can make Software Nigeria the winning story for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s future! After-all, software is Life.

Kakadu’s peace engineering architecture resides in its search of solutions for re-building the Nigerian Nation. Within its construct, Kakadu took us through the ‘valley of reasoning and logic. The play reminded us that, unless we build and patronize a strong national knowledge backbone (Software) to cultivate our development consciousness, there may be no nation called Nigeria in the very near digital future.

If the message and mission of Kakadu is to build Nigeria anew, then we must restructure our national Software Knowledge Engineering Ecosystem. Finally, the Group/originator/s of Kakadu and all the Cast deserve a National Knowledge Merit Award. Furthermore, it is my wish that Kakadu should the promoted and screened nationwide, as we continue our collective search for the indigenous Software patronage capable of setting a world-class record for posterity and as a legacy for the completeness of the Nigerian Enterprise. Apologies to those on the other side of the divide – it’s just my imagination – running away with me. Once again, welcome to the Dinner – nothing spoil!