ISPON to Launch National Registry to Boost Nigeria's Software GDP

The Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has inaugurated a new National Executive Council (NEC) in Lagos to spearhead a push for greater domestic patronage of indigenous technology. Led by newly inaugurated president James Agada, the organization is moving to formalize the visibility of local developers to reverse the sector's marginal economic impact.

During the inauguration, ISPON announced the upcoming launch of a National Software Industry Registry, scheduled for release within the next six months. The registry is designed to document indigenous software achievements and solve what the organization describes as a "discovery problem," where local players remain invisible to potential government and private clients. This initiative comes as the software sub-sector reportedly contributed less than 0.2% to Nigeria's GDP in the second quarter (Q2), according to data cited by the organization.

The Capacity Gap

Despite the low GDP contribution, ISPON estimates that the software sector is a massive engine for employment, supporting over one million people both directly and indirectly. The organization further estimates that there are more than 100,000 registered companies operating within the space. However, formal professional alignment remains low; ISPON currently counts approximately 500 corporate members and 10,000 individual members.

Former ISPON President Chris Uwaje characterized the current state of the industry not as a lack of technical competence, but as a "mindset problem." Uwaje argued that foreign entities maintain market dominance by fostering a myth that Nigerian developers lack the capacity to handle large-scale projects.

Implications for Digital Sovereignty

The push for "Made-in-Nigeria" software is a strategic attempt to combat capital flight and establish digital sovereignty. Currently, Nigeria relies heavily on imported software suites and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which drains foreign exchange and leaves the country dependent on external vendors for critical infrastructure. By shifting patronage toward local Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Nigeria can retain economic value and develop software tailored specifically to local regulations and infrastructure.

The Path Forward

The success of the new NEC will depend on whether the National Software Industry Registry can effectively bridge the gap between local capacity and government procurement. Observers will be watching to see if the registry leads to a measurable increase in government contracts for indigenous firms. For now, the organization remains focused on dismantling the perception that local software cannot compete with global alternatives, aiming to turn a million-strong workforce into a significant driver of national economic growth.