2007: Preparing Nigeria’s IT sector for greater heights
Jonah Iboma (Analysis)
Year 2006 comes to end in just a few days. The year had been an eventful one indeed for the information technology sector especially with the various initiatives of government to increase access of Nigerians to information technology tools. However, in terms of real achievement, it appears that much ground still remains to be covered in the sector in terms of Internet access, skilled use of IT tools and access to computers.In 2006, we have seen the takeoff of the Computer for all Nigerians Initiative, which has been designed by government to give citizens access computers very cheaply. The scheme packaged in conjunction with big names in the IT sector such as Microsoft and Intel, has been touted to have the potential to turn around the abysmally low IT penetration in the country and put Nigeria up there among leading countries in terms of IT usage. However, it is a pity that CANi has been enmeshed in some avoidable controversies which government is yet to fully clear up.It is important that the problem is not allowed to continue in the New Year against the backdrop that stakeholders say they had put their house in order. Right now, less than 20,000 computers have been ordered ffor distribution under the scheme. This must change now and the scheme pursued with renewed vigour. Also, there is the need to train people on how to use their computers very well, given the increased access of students and homes to computers.The Executive Director of Telecom Answers Associates, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, recently remarked that he had come to realise that Nigerians were very poor in the use of the computer keyboard and that young boys and girls in the secondary school were probably poorer in this skill than the older people and the average professional who uses the computer for his business activities. This sort of shortcoming is hardly seen among nationals of the developed world such as America and the United Kingdom. The clear reason here for this situation is that typing skills are not being imparted into our children and youths and as such people cannot use the computers very well. It thus appear that government must find a way to address this problem by introducing typing early in schools. There are several application software products that can address this and so it would cost very little to enforce. Beyond CANi, the expected merger of the ministries of communications and information needs to be done properly to ensure that there is no loss of the gains made in the sectors in the last few years. As the merger takes effect from January, there is a clear need for a conflict situation to be avoided. It is important that government does not attempt to put an inxeprienced politician to be in charge of the new ministry as there is bound to be some challenge in achieving desired integration between the ministries.Also, there is need to give greater attention to the realisation of the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative being pushed by the Nigerian Communications Commission. Broadband access still remains a mirage to many in the country who are made to pay ten times the price of the more reliable broadband for a mere dialup access. The Universal Service Provision Fund must be made available to true professional who have the capacity too develop the country rather than people who just want to feed fat on national wealth.
Year 2006 comes to end in just a few days. The year had been an eventful one indeed for the information technology sector especially with the various initiatives of government to increase access of Nigerians to information technology tools. However, in terms of real achievement, it appears that much ground still remains to be covered in the sector in terms of Internet access, skilled use of IT tools and access to computers.In 2006, we have seen the takeoff of the Computer for all Nigerians Initiative, which has been designed by government to give citizens access computers very cheaply. The scheme packaged in conjunction with big names in the IT sector such as Microsoft and Intel, has been touted to have the potential to turn around the abysmally low IT penetration in the country and put Nigeria up there among leading countries in terms of IT usage. However, it is a pity that CANi has been enmeshed in some avoidable controversies which government is yet to fully clear up.It is important that the problem is not allowed to continue in the New Year against the backdrop that stakeholders say they had put their house in order. Right now, less than 20,000 computers have been ordered ffor distribution under the scheme. This must change now and the scheme pursued with renewed vigour. Also, there is the need to train people on how to use their computers very well, given the increased access of students and homes to computers.The Executive Director of Telecom Answers Associates, Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, recently remarked that he had come to realise that Nigerians were very poor in the use of the computer keyboard and that young boys and girls in the secondary school were probably poorer in this skill than the older people and the average professional who uses the computer for his business activities. This sort of shortcoming is hardly seen among nationals of the developed world such as America and the United Kingdom. The clear reason here for this situation is that typing skills are not being imparted into our children and youths and as such people cannot use the computers very well. It thus appear that government must find a way to address this problem by introducing typing early in schools. There are several application software products that can address this and so it would cost very little to enforce. Beyond CANi, the expected merger of the ministries of communications and information needs to be done properly to ensure that there is no loss of the gains made in the sectors in the last few years. As the merger takes effect from January, there is a clear need for a conflict situation to be avoided. It is important that government does not attempt to put an inxeprienced politician to be in charge of the new ministry as there is bound to be some challenge in achieving desired integration between the ministries.Also, there is need to give greater attention to the realisation of the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative being pushed by the Nigerian Communications Commission. Broadband access still remains a mirage to many in the country who are made to pay ten times the price of the more reliable broadband for a mere dialup access. The Universal Service Provision Fund must be made available to true professional who have the capacity too develop the country rather than people who just want to feed fat on national wealth.
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