Ekeh attributed this alarming trend to systemic failures in respecting genuine local partnership structures established by foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), demanding strict regulatory sanctions against culpable firms.
His disclosure carries the weight of more than four decades of pioneering experience partnering with global technology titans, including HP, IBM, Dell, Cisco, and Microsoft; while building robust indigenous tech capacity across Africa.
Through Zinox Technologies, he established Nigeria’s first internationally certified computer manufacturing plant, delivering critical national solutions such as the technology architecture for Nigeria’s digital voter registration and major continental ICT infrastructure deployments.
This deep market vantage point underscores his critique of Nigeria’s enduring bias toward foreign tech brands, even as local indigenous manufacturers demonstrate world-class capabilities.
The widespread circulation of refurbished hardware passed off as new goes far beyond a simple brand preference issue; it exposes severe lapses in procurement verification, transparency, and value for money. For the public sector, where technology investments anchor critical national security, administrative, and developmental infrastructure; procuring unverified, aging equipment compromises operational integrity and wastes public resources.
Ekeh emphasized that no nation can claim true sovereignty without technological independence. He called for the aggressive enforcement of the Nigeria First Policy, urging government MDAs to prioritize certified, high-quality indigenous tech solutions that meet global standards without falling prey to fraudulent importation loops.
The session also interrogated the modernization of public contracting through technology. Experts noted that scaling e-procurement platforms, government cloud infrastructure, data protection frameworks, and digital audit trails is vital to eliminating manipulation and ensuring complete traceability in public spending.
Lawyers were charged with adapting to this digitized procurement landscape. As contracting grows increasingly complex, legal professionals must master the intersection of technology, compliance, and regulatory frameworks to mitigate procurement risks and manage disputes effectively.
Aligning with the NBA conference theme, “Beyond Limits,” stakeholders concluded that Nigeria must radically redefine value in technology procurement. Foreign origin must no longer serve as a blanket proxy for superior quality, nor local origin be viewed as a limitation. Building a transparent, authentic procurement culture will safeguard public funds, protect national security, and empower Nigerian tech companies to drive the country’s digital future.
Uboshe Uboshe/Editor
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The widespread circulation of refurbished hardware passed off as new goes far beyond a simple brand preference issue; it exposes severe lapses in procurement verification, transparency, and value for money. For the public sector, where technology investments anchor critical national security, administrative, and developmental infrastructure; procuring unverified, aging equipment compromises operational integrity and wastes public resources.
Ekeh emphasized that no nation can claim true sovereignty without technological independence. He called for the aggressive enforcement of the Nigeria First Policy, urging government MDAs to prioritize certified, high-quality indigenous tech solutions that meet global standards without falling prey to fraudulent importation loops.
The session also interrogated the modernization of public contracting through technology. Experts noted that scaling e-procurement platforms, government cloud infrastructure, data protection frameworks, and digital audit trails is vital to eliminating manipulation and ensuring complete traceability in public spending.
Lawyers were charged with adapting to this digitized procurement landscape. As contracting grows increasingly complex, legal professionals must master the intersection of technology, compliance, and regulatory frameworks to mitigate procurement risks and manage disputes effectively.
Aligning with the NBA conference theme, “Beyond Limits,” stakeholders concluded that Nigeria must radically redefine value in technology procurement. Foreign origin must no longer serve as a blanket proxy for superior quality, nor local origin be viewed as a limitation. Building a transparent, authentic procurement culture will safeguard public funds, protect national security, and empower Nigerian tech companies to drive the country’s digital future.
Uboshe Uboshe/Editor
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