In its bid to engage local firms for the deployment of technology for the 2023 census, the leadership of the National Population Commission, NPC, on Thursday, visited the factory of an indigenous technology firm, RLG Adulawo in Ilesa, Osun State.
The team toured the various sections of the factory, including the assembly lines, testing centres and workshop sections where ICT gadgets are produced and a training institute that produces the needed skills required to service the ICT devices sector.
While being conducted around the factory, the team witnessed live assembly of Set-Top-Boxes (decoders) for one of the major cable TV providers for the country as well as the factory’s efforts in local assembly for Nigerian made electric meters.
Addressing journalists after the inspection, the RLG Managing Director, Tosin Ilesanmi, assured the RLG’s readiness, capacity and track record to deliver world class devices required to power the coming 2023 census.
Mr Ilesanmi added that the factory is well equipped with both manual and automated assemblage lines that is capable of delivering world class products and hand held devices, that will aid the success of the 2023 National Population Census.
According to him, the factory has successfully made products for the Federal Government through N-Power, FREE TV as well as StarTimes, and trained over 20,000 youths of Osun State under the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme Technology, OYESTECH, among others.
Also speaking. The NPC Federal Commissioner, Dr. Clifford Zirra, told newsmen that the facility tour was aimed at ensuring that the agency contracts the best hands to do the job.
Mr Zirra added that the commission would partner with competent Nigerian companies like RLG to encourage local content, towards making the forthcoming National Census 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 great standard.
“That is why we want to associate ourselves with people who can give us value, 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 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, other members of the team lauded and expressed satisfaction over the factory’s readiness for the project.
