Software Quality Assurance Crucial for Nigeria’s Digital Economy

As Nigeria’s expanding digital economy develops, the Nigerian Software Testing Qualification Board (NGSTQB) emphasised on Friday the importance of strong software quality assurance (SQA) procedures.

The president, Mr Boye Dare, stated that the success of businesses is determined by the quality of software products.

According to Dare, Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding at a never-before-seen pace, with e-commerce predicted to reach a market size of 75 billion dollars by 2025 and the fintech industry valued at over three billion dollars.

He claimed that the nation’s booming tech start-up scene, especially in cities like Lagos and Abuja, had drawn large venture capital investments, amounting to over $1 billion in recent years.

However, he pointed out that the ongoing expansion of these industries depended on well-developed software, explaining that subpar software could result in operational disruptions, security flaws, and a decline in customer trust, all of which could negatively impact the company’s reputation.

He gave the example of a large Nigerian bank that had a software malfunction in 2023, which caused its online banking system to go down for several days.

“The outage not only caused customers to lose trust in the bank but also led to significant financial losses for both the bank and its clients,” Dare said.

He noted that successful SQA methods might help firms prevent costly errors, enhance the end-user experience, and ensure software reliability over time.

SQA, which covers all tasks related to tracking and enhancing the software development process, is essential to guaranteeing that digital goods fulfill predetermined criteria and requirements, according to Dare.

He said the board is dedicated to advancing quality assurance and software testing excellence and educating people about the significance of SQA in the nation’s digital economy.

In order to enhance software testing and quality assurance, he mentioned the TestNigeria Conference, which brings together experts in the area to exchange best practices and information.

Dare also highlighted the importance of SQA in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and education, where software failures could have serious consequences.

“In the healthcare sector, for example, software failures can have serious consequences for patients, including incorrect diagnoses and treatments.”

Dare urged for businesses, government agencies, and educational institutions to prioritise SQA in their digital transformation efforts, to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.

He also advised software developers and testers to acquire the requisite skills and certifications to provide high-quality software products.

According to the president of the NGSTQB, a proper emphasis on SQA would boost Nigeria’s digital economy and spur innovation, growth, and job creation.

Manomsi Mallum/ NAN