In its bid to ensure local content, especially in technology, for the success of the 2023 National Population Census, the leadership of the National Population Commission (NPC) visited the Nigeria factory of an Indigenous technology firm, RLG Adulawo, in Ilesa, Osun State, on Thursday.
The inspection is part of the commission’s efforts to ensure that next year’s census complies with the presidential directive on local content and global best practices, especially in technology.
The team toured the various sections of the RLG Adulawo Technology City, Ilesa factory, including the assembly lines, testing centres and workshop sections, where ICT gadgets are produced. The city also boasts a training institute uniquely producing the skills required to service the ICT devices sector. The Team witnessed the live assembly of set-top boxes (decoders) for one of the major cable TV providers in the country as well as the factory efforts in local assembly for Nigerian-made electric meters.
RLG Managing Director Mr Tosin Ilesanmi, showcasing the devices done so far by the firm and the factory’s daily assembly capacity, assured the visiting Team of RLG’s readiness, capacity, and track record to deliver world-class devices required to power the coming 2023 census.
Ilesanmi added that the factory is well equipped with both manual and automated assemblage lines capable of delivering world-class products and handheld devices, which will aid the success of the 2023 National Population Census.
He said that over the years, the factory has successfully made products for the Federal Government through N-Power, FREE TV, and StarTimes and trained over 20,000 Youths of Osun State under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Technology (OYESTECH), among other things.
Addressing journalists after the inspection, which had in attendance the Federal Commissioners of the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Darlington Okereke, Dr Clifford Zirra and Senator Mudashiru Husain, the Director General of the agency, Mr Tellson Ojegun and other top echelons of the agency in attendance, Dr Zirra told newsmen that the facility tour is to ensure that the agency contracts the best hands to do the job.
National Census: Zirra assure partnerships with competent Nigerian companies
Zirra added that the commission will ensure partnerships with competent Nigerian companies like RLG to encourage local content and ensure the forthcoming National Census is hitch-free and acceptable to all Nigerians.
“We are a pacesetter. We are now going to conduct a digitized census for the first time, in the history of Nigeria and the history of Africa, we want to do something very acceptable and of a great standard. That is why we want to associate ourselves with people who can give us value, a value that would add to our work.
“We have a lot to do in terms of mobilisation, manpower and logistics to do the census, next year. That is why we are here to look at what they have. For now, we have what we need but we are discussing and by the time we reach the bridge, we will cross it over. We have started the discussion, and we pray we get it on time.
“We will also ensure that, in line with a presidential directive, we will ensure compliance with standards in making sure that local content is optimised to the best of standards.”
Corroborating him, other team members lauded and expressed satisfaction over the factory’s readiness for the project.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman of RLG Adulawo Technology City, Ilesa, Alhaji Rasaq Animashaun, noted that the company is open to partnerships and alliances with governments and relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians enjoy more quality technology produced locally.
He said the NPC/RLG partnership will promote Indigenous technology and local content and retain jobs directly and indirectly, as all the devices will be assembled at the RLG facility, and the aftercare will be in partnership with local technicians nationwide. He added that NPC can take credit for reversing capital flight and be in charge of championing adherence to the Local Content Executive Order.
