OMATEC Computers’ collapse: Agency absolves self of complicity

*Court orders firm’s takeover

Following the closure of the Omatek Ventures Plc, makers of
Omatek Computers’ factory in Lagos, the dusts it raised are yet to
settle.

It will be recalled that the firm, which was taken over by a
court order barely four months after the death of Mrs. Florence
Seriki, founder and CEO of Omatek Computer, has been creating some
ripples in the telecoms’ sector.

Our reporter gathered that the closure was due to an alleged
inability by the company to pay up loans it owes some local
banks.

However, the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency
(NITDA), under whose

supervision the company fell has absolved self of blame
following the collapse of Omatek

Ventures Plc, makers of Omatek Computers.

In his reaction to the closure, the Director General, Nigerian
Information Technology Development Agency, Dr. Isah Pantami,
claimed that Omatek never contacted his agency.

“This is the first time I heard about the condition of Omatek
Computers. It has never been communicated to us, formally or
otherwise,” Pantami said in a statement.

Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA, Mrs.
Hadiza Umar, quoted the DG, as saying, “I personally gave an
appointment to Omatek for a meeting, but Omatek couldn’t make it;
and no official communications was received on their inability to
attend was made available to NITDA”.

The statement said,“I recently met all Original Equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) in Lagos. Part of our discussions, was how
NITDA can support them. They explained all their complaints, but
not the situation of Omatek.

“For the first time in the history of the agency, we arrange a
quarterly meeting with OEMs on how to strengthen local
content.”

NITDA boss also argued in the reaction to the agency not
intervening like other regulators that “The situation of Etisalat
is far different from this. 9mobile has always been in touch with
their regulators and they have considered them as their
stakeholders.”

The late Seriki, fondly called ‘Mama Computer,’ until her death
on March 3, 2017 in Lagos, was one of Nigeria’s pioneers and
foremost indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that
specialize in the manufacturing of computers and other ICT related
devices.

After Seriki’s departure, Omatek appointed Yemi Ogundipe as the
Group Managing Director of the company.

Indeed, the late Seriki served as the Chief Executive Officer
and Group Managing Director of Omatek Ventures Plc, which she
started and nurtured to fruition about 25 years ago.

*Court orders firm’s takeover

Following the closure of the Omatek Ventures Plc, makers of
Omatek Computers’ factory in Lagos, the dusts it raised are yet to
settle.

It will be recalled that the firm, which was taken over by a
court order barely four months after the death of Mrs. Florence
Seriki, founder and CEO of Omatek Computer, has been creating some
ripples in the telecoms’ sector.

Our reporter gathered that the closure was due to an alleged
inability by the company to pay up loans it owes some local
banks.

However, the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency
(NITDA), under whose

supervision the company fell has absolved self of blame
following the collapse of Omatek

Ventures Plc, makers of Omatek Computers.

In his reaction to the closure, the Director General, Nigerian
Information Technology Development Agency, Dr. Isah Pantami,
claimed that Omatek never contacted his agency.

“This is the first time I heard about the condition of Omatek
Computers. It has never been communicated to us, formally or
otherwise,” Pantami said in a statement.

Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA, Mrs.
Hadiza Umar, quoted the DG, as saying, “I personally gave an
appointment to Omatek for a meeting, but Omatek couldn’t make it;
and no official communications was received on their inability to
attend was made available to NITDA”.

The statement said,“I recently met all Original Equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) in Lagos. Part of our discussions, was how
NITDA can support them. They explained all their complaints, but
not the situation of Omatek.

“For the first time in the history of the agency, we arrange a
quarterly meeting with OEMs on how to strengthen local
content.”

NITDA boss also argued in the reaction to the agency not
intervening like other regulators that “The situation of Etisalat
is far different from this. 9mobile has always been in touch with
their regulators and they have considered them as their
stakeholders.”

The late Seriki, fondly called ‘Mama Computer,’ until her death
on March 3, 2017 in Lagos, was one of Nigeria’s pioneers and
foremost indigenous Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that
specialize in the manufacturing of computers and other ICT related
devices.

After Seriki’s departure, Omatek appointed Yemi Ogundipe as the
Group Managing Director of the company.

Indeed, the late Seriki served as the Chief Executive Officer
and Group Managing Director of Omatek Ventures Plc, which she
started and nurtured to fruition about 25 years ago.