In this digital age, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) empowerment is a major tool for personal and corporate development. ICT empowerment to me is the ability to equip oneself with the latest ICT skills available around the world today in such areas like computer engineering, mobile technology, the internet, telecommunication, information technology and others, with the objective of improving ones standard of living, provide jobs for the unemployed. It has been in recent years the major tool used to drive economies in countries like China, Sweden, Malaysia, Singapore, India and Korea among others.
Businesses are done at the speed of thought with ICT.
Looking at the use and deployment of ICT in developing nations like Nigeria, a lot needs to be done for us to fully harness or get the benefits of an ICT empowered state. The penetration of ICT in Nigeria is less than 10%. We need to bridge the digital divide between us as a nation and the advanced nations. This call for personal awakening and reorientation, there should be a paradigm shift from us being job seekers to job providers, from being good consumers of technology to great providers of technology. No one is going to do it for us; we need to face the challenges squarely. I do marvel at the technological prowess of India and China, they are unarguably the best in ICT today in the world, they are gradually taking over the world with ICT.I don’t think they waited for any country to tell them what needs to be done, they developed their ICT capability themselves and even have enough to export to countries like ours. As a matter of fact, most of the ICT companies in Nigeria today are owned by the Indians which show the veracity of my statement.
Though a lot has been said by the government on this important sector, we need not rely on the government; I am also in support of government’s initiative in the development of indigenous computers under the aegis of Computer for All Nigeria Initiative (CANi) which has Omatek, Zinox and other computer companies as partners. It is a welcomed idea.
This is actually the time for individual ICT skill acquisition, our young graduates looking for jobs should start looking at ICT as the tool that will make the difference and give them a life, no matter what profession you are in or you want to go into, you need ICT empowerment. We should develop ourselves beyond the basic computer appreciation courses, we should begin to think and focus on areas like software engineering, networking, systems engineering, GSM technology, database administration, communication technology, information management, web technology, internet marketing and many others. We really have a dearth of professionals in these areas. Professionals in these areas are being sought after here in Nigeria. The future of ICT lies in our hands so let us start today no matter how little it seems, your ability to keep on acquiring these skills is what makes the difference. The internet should also be used as a pool of relevant information and used constructively.
I am very much interested in the isssue of training Nigerians in ICT. Actually, that is my major plan. I wonder though, if there are any legislative obstacle to setting up an accredited learning institution. What can be the obstacles to look out for? apart from the Electricity issue?
I am not per se an expert in ICT at the moment.But i find attractive about the author is that enthusiasim to move his immediate environment forward through his profession.I agree with him entirely nobody can do it for us and we can all abardon our own country and be in despora.We must all make concious and collective efforts to make the project Nigeria works so that we can leave as God willed for his creations.
Thanks Mr Richard for the compliments about this article,i wrote it like i have been writing in any medium i can use,both on here,the newpapers and the likes,with a burden in my heart which is to see Nigeria being transformed through ICT.One of the problems here is that we have dearth of ICT professionals here in Nigeria who will make the required impact in this sector and provide the needed solution.The areas i think we really need urgent attention are first, the aspect of training Nigerians especially the work force to become ICT and IT proffessionals,Another area i see opportunity is in the use of ICT in enhancing small businesses,providing solutions for small businesses is an area that is still untapped here in Nigeria.If ICT and IT professionals abroad come down here and take up these challenges it would do us good,though the environment here might not be all that conducive like it is over there but it is worth sacrificing for especially as a Nigerian cos nobody will do it for us.Thank you
I am very happy we have people like you writing good articles on ICT and lets hope we will be listening. I am into ICT myself, though in the diaspora, am always looking for ways to start in the Nigerian market. any lead into that?