Nigerian computer dealers unite against piracy

By Eunice Ayegboyin

Computers dealers inside Otigba appear to be cleaning
up their act with the launch of an umbrella
association Computers and Allied Products Dealers
Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN).

Otigba, otherwise called Ikeja Computer Village, is
the hub of computer sales in Nigeria with daily
turnover running into millions of Naira. But Otigba is
also notorious for its booming trade in counterfeited
products notably software and print inks.

CAPDAN, which took root in the early 90s is poised to
re-mould Otigba as a market for legitimate computer
business and “drive the overall national vision of
promoting information technology growth for national
development through the supply of computer hardware,
software and allied products.” Its officials told IT
Edge in Lagos at a formal inauguration of the
association.

The aim of CAPDAN, according to the president of the
association Mr. Ibrahim Olatunji, is to grow the
market into West Africa’s regional hub for computers,
hardware accessories and service by the end of 2005.

It is a done deal for CAPDAN whose members provide
ready outlets for different computer merchants based
in the Middle East and Far East Asia notably Dubai,
Taiwan, and China.

CAPDAN would be waging a major battle against those
who infringe intellectual property rights, said
Olatunji to signify plans by the association to work
closely with Microsoft Nigeria and Adobe, which
recently opened a Nigerian presence. Microsoft with
the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has been in
the forefront of several campaigns to enforce
intellectual property rights.

The NCC has carried out over 15 raids in the last two
years on Otigba’s merchants of counterfeit software.
It may no longer have need for this if CAPDAN cleans
up its house.

Already, the association has settled to work. “CAPDAN
members have been engaging with intellectual property
rights owners, especially Microsoft, to create
awareness on its role in undermining innovativeness
and development of the technology sector,” said
Olatunji.

But fighting piracy is not CAPDAN’s only task. The
association is asking government to create enabling
initiative and policies to signify CAPDAN’s plans to
be an IT advocacy group. “We seek for government
patronage from government and the organised private
sector to boost local content in the technology
market, and boost overall growth of the Nigerian
economy.”

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