The director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi and other experts have called for the adoption of cloud computing in Nigeria to accelerate growth of its small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).
Nigeria currently have about 41 million SMEs. The experts who spoke at a webinar hosted by CyberCloud, an indigenous service provider, with the theme: “The New Normal: Future of Cloud Computing in Nigeria post COVID19.”
The NITDA boss said Cloud Technology will also enable rapid governance on the part of government at all levels, noting that with coronavirus pandemic still raging, companies must device means to continue to serve their customers adequately.
The experts averred that one clear-cut platform this can be achieved is through cloud computing. As such, at the webinar, which had over 700 attendees from far and wide, they emphasised the importance of fresh investment in the sub-sector.
Those in attendance include: managing director, RackCentre, Ayotunde Coker; partner, Technology Advisory, KPMG, John Anyanwu; CIO, First City Monument Bank, Collins Osugo; and national coordinator, Office for Nigerian Content Development in ICT (ONC), NITDA, Bar. Kasim Sodangi.
They were hosted by Head, CyberCloud Business, Laurel Onumonu in conjunction with managing director, Cyberspace Limited, Joe Onwubuya; and senior manager, Cloud Business, VMware, Dave Funnell.
According to Coker, Cloud Computing are services that you consume over the internet, regardless of its location. It’s a service you can subscribe to and consume as you require, you scale as you grow and you pay as you go.
He further stated that CyberCloud and Rack center have the capacity to provide all cloud services needed by the government, corporate bodies and individuals. Speaking on the development, Anyanwu said Cloud services have always been a part of our lives without us knowing it.
Anyanwu said several people have been using the likes of Google Mail, Yahoo, and so many services that are in the cloud and “we have been enjoying these services for our personal lives without even knowing what we are using.”
He further said ‘’Cloud gives a huge opportunity for us to facilitate innovation with low capital investment.” Dissecting how Cloud Services are utilized by the government, Sodangi said as far back as 2013, NITDA issued a guideline for National Content Development in IT.
According to him, one of the guidelines specifically speaks to the retention and domestication of Data Services of the government needs rising from the operation of government and data that is owned by government must be hosted locally.
He further stated that ‘’Cloud services will sufficiently improve how services are delivered in Nigeria and change the face of the public sector if it is understood and implemented as it ought to be’’.
Catering to the aspect of a Cloud end-user, Osugo stated that, “Banks have been in the forefront of Cloud Computing.” However, he said for banks to have the confidence to host and work with local providers, there are certain criteria that needs to be met.
He further stated, “Once the government plays its significant role in making sure adequate infrastructures are in place and the enterprenuised, i.e KPMG, VMware accesses the risk and ensure that the skills required to manage these services are also in place, then the sky’s the limit.
Funnell on his part, said ‘’Interrogate your cloud provider because not all cloud providers are equal and can deliver the services you require. However, the certification Vmware provides Cybercloud should help build the element of trust and trust is key because Cloud Computing is the way to accelerate a business’’.
He further said that Cloud is an enabler to fast forward to the future and working with a cloud provider that is reputable can really enable your business.
From his perspective, the MD, Cyberspace Limited, concluded by urging the attendees to subscribe to the flexible services that CyberCloud has to offer.
Onwubuya said: “Cybercloud can accommodate both the small businesses and big enterprises and can assure you that based on the policies from NITDA, we continue to run a very secure system.”
Bringing the session to a close, Onumonu, highlighted the offerings of Cybercloud and encouraged all the participants to contact the firm via its social media platforms for answers to the questions unattended to. The Head, CyberCloud Limited, further stated “We urge you to watch out for more series on Cloud Computing and what it has to offer.”
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