Calls for design of local content software applications in the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) environment are gradually being heeded by designers and computer engineers.

Last week, a local firm, Maycom Technologies Limited, launched locally designed accounting software known as Figurro, to swell the exclusive club of indigenous software in the country.

The accounting software has menu for both general ledger, accounting receivables, invoicing control, account payables, control centre, user maintenance, tax setting and human resources.

Other features include modern colour coded user friendly interface, tracks payments status, free currency insertion and it allows for departmental, product and project accounting.

Figurro's accounting features enable it to modify financial year and in-house all types of voucher printing and generates balance sheet by project.

Managing Director of Maycom Technologies, Musbahu el-Yakub, said at the launch that the accounting software is specifically targeted at small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which require accounting systems and processes.

He said that because of the absence of necessary accounting tool for the SMEs, it has become difficult for owners, managers and discerning financiers and investors to know the true state of affairs of their companies and their potential,

According to him, SME managers wrongly assume that investment in business and financial information processing is an expensive venture to be avoided.

"This attitude has cost SMEs greatly and we have come with this product that is reasonably priced and yet versatile enough to handle all the financial and business information processing of SMEs", he said.

He said the banking sector should be more interested because the product will make it easier for them to reliably assess businesses and support them where opportunities abound.