The Predicaments of Local Computer Manufacturers in Nigeria

No country can become industrialized without an active and well patronized local industry. A nations economy can only thrive when locally made products are given the opportunity to have a domineering edge over the imported ones.
However, the Nigerian factor of preference to what is foreign as against what is indigenous has continued to pose serious threat to the local computer industry in the country. Many are not even aware that computers are assembled and manufactured locally in the country. The quest for foreign brands like Dell, Hp, Toshiba, Lenovo, IBM has over shadowed the solemn voice of the locally made brands. This offshore brands have so made names and dominated the market scene that locally made computers are left to struggle for survival. The reasons for this has been attributed to brand loyalty and good track records of these offshore computer manufacturers.
Reactions of computer users 
Computer users claim that the domestic computer manufacturers have not done enough in terms of research, marketing and rolling out computer products that can compete favorably with their foreign counterparts. The use of pirated software, inferior quality hardware, low memory capacity, feeble battery life span e.t.c are but a few reasons for the low patronage witnessed by local computer manufacturers. Local computer manufacturers are unable to meet up the pace with which their offshore competitors upgrade what they have on ground. Hence, their products are tagged as substandard and this has negative effect on the industry.
Not given up
Many indigenous computer industries have closed down and others are on the verge of closing because of low business activity in their domain. But there are still a few local manufacturers who never say die and have refused to throw in towel. They are ready to see it to the end. The likes Zinox, Omatek, Beta computers, Pragmatic, Geniac, Veda computers and UNITEC have refused to give in their foreign competitors. A test run on their products showed that they are up to international standard and can compete with any foreign computers.
Zinox having exceptionally strong foothold
Zinox in particular has improved its technology to a level that it has gained recognition from Microsoft and Intel. Zinox is the only certified authorised local Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) partner of Microsoft and Intel. They are the only local computer company rated by IDC and  Intel because of their effort to patronize only genuine software and hardware. This has given them government's recognition. Hence, government is willing to partner with Zinox for the supply and installation of computer in all government ministries, parastatals and agencies. Corporate bodies and private individuals should borrow a leaf from this and emulate what the government is doing.
Conclusion
By and large, let us give our local computer industry a reason to survive through our patronage. The impact of this patronage on the economy cannot be over-emphasized.



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