Adeyinka Elebute - Nigeria's ICT Voice - ICT Policy for Development in Nigeria, developing Nigerian ICT for Development (ICT4D) Policies

Adeyinka Elebute - Nigeria's ICT Voice - ICT Policy for Development

Welcome to Nigeria's ICT Voices - visitors to Jidaw.com (the acclaimed web initiative for IT and Telecom), have been sharing their opinions, views and recommendations on the development of the Nigeria's ICT for Development (ICT4D) Strategic Action Plan and Policies by taking part in the Online ICT Policy Survey.

Some of such insights are published online as Nigeria's ICT Voices to raise awareness and involvement.

Here is one of Nigeria's ICT Voices. In his words, "A larger percentage of our graduates are very much computer illiterate and will need "brushing up". Here are the views of Adeyinka Elebute as captured from the survey:

Contributor: Adeyinka Elebute

To boost IT Literacy and Diffusion:

I believe the Federal Government has a larger role to play in this issue by coming out with a policy that will integrate every sector into computer knowledge and operations to enhance and improve output of goods and services. Besides that, our integration into the world IT village will increase the rate of development economically, ecologically, educationally and even socially..

How has Nigeria's ICT policy fared:

NITDA, Nigeria Internet Group, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and other related bodies are making efforts at making IT knowledge available to all. Computers and accessories are being donated to schools, Universities and other educational Institutions for rapid improvement in computer knowledge. A larger percentage of our graduates are very much computer illiterate and will need "brushing up" to be able to flow along in this computer age.

To stimulate the local ICT industry:

Some components of computer hardware are registered or licensed to original producers e.g. Intel Pentium products etc and will therefore require permission for reproduction and usage of such products in the country. This might slow down the process of manufacture of such parts and the total configuration of the computer system. Although companies like Zinox and the rest are doing quite a good job at "Nigerianising" the computer, it will have to pass international standards for it to gain International acceptance and recognition and to be taken much more serious in the IT world. Well known computer manufacturers like COMPAQ, HP, etc should be encouraged to liaise with local manufacturers who have passed the test for such sensitive products to be manufactured for use by the public.

How can Nigerian developed software be promoted:
It is a well known fact that Nigerians have a large pool Computer Scientists, Computer Programmers etc who are making global impact in their respective professions. It is therefore not an issue for them to produce software that can command world attention. What is actually needed is to draw the attention of regulatory authorities as to the suitability of such programmes in both the private and public sector which will be licensed and produced in mass.

How the private sector can become the driving force for ICT:
In developed countries like US, UK, JAPAN, GERMANY etc it is the private sector that is the driving force behind ICT creativity and productivity. An enabling environment in terms of being investor friendly has to be created, because IT products and services are capital intensive and will require highly skilled labour for such projects to be run progressively and successfully. In other words, more people will have to be trained to take sensitive positions and also source available funds for continuous research to be made for world standard products and services to be manufactured.

ICTs as an enabler of economic and social development:
As previously mentioned an enabling environment has to be created apart from making available required funds either locally or offshore to actualize production of ICT products. We also need to make use of Nigerians who have the required skills in Computer Operations, Programming etc rather than importing foreign hands to do the job for us.

Comments: We also need to market such products after having gone through international standards and acceptance for the country to earn more foreign exchange.

We thank Adeyinka Elebute for his time and contribution!

Published 30 Nov 2006

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