The Nigerian Software Testing Qualifications Board says it will prioritise stronger, globally aligned software testing standards in 2026 to improve reliability, security and trust of Nigeria’s digital systems.

The president of NGSTQB, Boye Dare, said this in an interview in Lagos on Monday.

The Nigerian Software Testing Qualifications Board is a member board of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board, the world’s leading organisation for certification of professionals in software testing.

The NGSTOB president noted that the board’s focus for 2026 was to embed software quality as a standard expectation across both public and private sector digital services as Nigeria’s digital transformation continued to expand.

Mr Dare said NGSTQB wanted software testing recognised as a critical enabler of reliable and secure systems, rather than treated as an optional activity added at the final stage of development.

“Our priority for 2026 is to ensure that software quality becomes a national standard, not an afterthought. Reliable digital services depend on professional testing practices applied from the early stages of development, and organisations must see testing as both a business and security necessity,” he added.

Mr Dare said that the board’s emphasis on stronger testing standards was driven by persistent weaknesses in software testing practices, which exposed systems to failures, security vulnerabilities and loss of public confidence.

According to Mr Dare, software testing is still often treated as a final-stage activity in many organisations, while skills gaps persist in specialised areas such as automation, performance, and security testing.

He said awareness of the business value of structured testing remained uneven at executive and decision-making levels, limiting investment in quality assurance frameworks.

Mr Dare said NGSTQB had played a critical role in addressing these challenges by promoting professional, standardised and internationally recognised testing practices nationwide. 

He said these industry challenges helped shape NGSTQB’s priorities for 2026, with workforce development and stronger partnerships becoming central to the board’s strategy.

Mr Dare said the board planned to deepen collaboration with government, academia and industry to drive wider adoption of best practices across the country.

Reviewing the board’s performance in 2025, Mr Dare said NGSTQB consolidated its position as Nigeria’s reference body for professional software testing.

He said the board expanded nationwide awareness of globally recognised ISTQB certifications, helping professionals and organisations better understand the importance of structured testing competence.

(NAN)