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Story: Microsoft: Africa doesn't need free software

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It is often said that many of the major problems in Nigeria are not facilitated by external factors, but Nigerians who cannot see truth even when it stares them in the face.

Evidence for this abounds - a legislature that pays lip service to labour issues and then goes on recess when a simple action by them would have more impact than a 3 week labour strike; ministers who make you wonder if you live in the same nation when they talk about Nigeria, a 'populist' government which is 'making progress' in eradicating poverty, and hundreds of 'heroes' whose paths are strewn with evil.

So far in the IT world we have had it a little better; we have been realistic and within limits, hardworking. Microsoft we may not like, but we do not deny their brilliance. Even gladiators give themselves some dubious kind of respect.

Mr Ilukwe has by the statement below stood, as a respected member of the IT community, to make a statement that trivialises the achievements of harworking Nigerians and insults the vision of the NITDA's, NIG's, NGLUG's and others - even MCSE's who can configure Linux!
I dont think he understood what he was saying - that his own countrymen do not have the intelligence to move their nation forward. I am sure such speech enhances his income, but it is, to say the least, unpatriotic.

I work in a company that is populated by many reputedly 'hard-working, brilliant' chinese, and I am shocked at the rate at which Nigerians read fast, assimilate and become experts at things in a short while - becoming better than the expatriates in some cases! Believe you me, Mr Ilukwe, the Nigerians that you associate with may be too rich, daft or cosy to understand FOSS, but some of us do - and given time and exposure, many more will - so when you want to take your statistics, move a few steps outside the Microsoft Nigeria office, will you? The demographics outside are more accurate..

Apparently I am furious - and it is because many will listen to men like this and believe them - thus boxing innocent citizens and young people into a corner because of a line on Mr Ilukwe's Microsoft approval sheet.

I think he needs to stop this 'Fani-Kayode-sque' type of inverted intelligence. I dont know him, but I do respect him.

So, with due respect, Mr Ilukwe, you're wrong. When you dont know what to say, kindly keep quiet.

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