Small enterprises and businesses need to exploit digital
infrastructure in a more serious manner. They must adopt the
cost-effective, innovative ways of doing business to tap into this
era of “small giants”.
To compete globally and create sustainable economic growth
Nigeria must develop and produce in the ICT arena. Perpetual
consumption without production is not just dependence. It is
slavery. Growing and fostering ICT-enabled entrepreneurship –
innovative entrepreneurship to meet the needs of local and global
markets is the way to go.
Broadband Initiatives
Broadband networks support the key public and private
applications which underpin the entire economy. A number of undersea
fibre optic cable projects (Glo one, Main one) that will link
Nigeria with expanded international bandwidth capacity are currently
in various stages of development. It is essential to encourage such
broadband expansion initiatives. The various broadband cable
projects will improve broadband availability and competition by breaking the
existing monopoly of the erratic SAT-3 submarine fiber-optic cable
network. These initiatives will in addition provide cheaper and high
quality communications links. However, to fully benefit from these
interventions it is also important to improve last mile connectivity
nationwide - there is a need to build internal linkages within the country
on a massive scale.
Broadband enhances existing Internet applications, while
paving the way for new solutions, which were too expensive,
inefficient or slow to consider in the past.
We have seen the example of GSM – widespread broadband growth can
also have a transformatory, multiplier effect on the economy and
growth.
Nigeria’s telecom
regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has started
implementing an initiative aimed at closing the broadband telecom
gaps in unserved communities. NCC’s State Accelerated Broadband
Initiative (SABI) is a Private Public Partnership arrangement which
entails deploying broadband services in all of the country’s states
by the end of 2009.
The NCC however has to improve its regulatory function in the
areas of quality of service and consumer protection.
Improving the Environment
The ICT sector can be used to accelerate economic growth – as
a tool for independence. But ICT is not a cure all. In fact if this
sector is to be an engine for sustainable development, serious
attention must be paid to creating an enabling environment to both
stimulate significant investment in the ICT sector and support ICT
and ICT enabled activities. Already Nigeria’s massive population is
an opportunity. With the right strategies in place the population
will attract investors - local and foreign – who will creates jobs
and widen opportunities in the economy.
Information security
is an area of concern. Cybercrime,
hacking, phishing, ATM fraud and general identity theft are on the
increase. Security of information assets is critical to building
confidence in today’s networked world. Having secure information
environments helps in attracting more investment in ICT. The need to
develop Information security awareness and capacity is glaring not
just in Nigeria but whole over Africa.
The African Information Security Association (AISA) was
established to facilitate and promote information security in
Africa.
Government, security agencies, private sector must be proactive in
complementing the efforts of AISA. There is no one-man army in
information security. And waiting for major problems/violations is
irresponsible. Establishing legal and regulatory frameworks to
support e-business, ICT and ICT enabled activity is therefore
imperative. Legal infrastructure is required to practically address
law enforcement, consumer protection, Intellectual property rights,
Cybercrime, electronic contracts, data protection and other aspects
of information security. Towards this end, Nigeria’s House of
Representatives held a
public hearing on draft legislation for
Cyber Security and the Information Protection Agency in July, 2009.
The unfriendly operating environment is a
major challenge. The high cost of business setup, multiple
taxation, crime, weak infrastructure base, as well as inefficient
and corrupt business practices must change. Hostility in the
environment hinders both the development of the ICT sector and the
growth of ICT enabled services. IT only serves to drive operator and
provider costs up. In particular security and crime
prevention/detection must be brought into the 21st century with ICT.
And global competitiveness will be difficult without attending to
the problem of power supply.
In addition to the transformation of the education system, it
is imperative to establish a knowledge culture
environment. Access is not an end in itself. It is what you
do with access that matters. The environment must foster creativity,
local content development, reward merit and facilitate the cultivation of an
entrepreneurial mindset, especially among Nigeria’s youth.
Do value systems encourage consumption or contribution?
Get-rich-quick or hard work? Pleasure or knowledge? Entertainment,
innovation, wealth creation? Knowledge, computer education and
entrepreneurship should be promoted through incentives, funding,
support, initiatives and interventions such as business support or
skills development centres.
Promotion of an inclusive information
society (characterized by lifelong learning, creativity, innovation and
public awareness) needs to be high on the agenda. ICT must connect
with the people. Otherwise the “bread or broadband” questions will
take centre stage. How does ICT help me? People must see and
appreciate practical opportunities for growth, options for the
future, prospects for making their own choices and living
interesting lives.
The essence is to help all Nigerians realize their
aspirations, and enable them participate meaningfully in the
economy and society.
Strong leadership is required by
government The government should use the development of
online presence for government agencies, e-payment, online
procurement practices and ICT enabled processes to provide
incentives for local ICT enterprises. Instead of empty slogans and
the vague promotion of ICT, deliberate promotion of ICT creativity
rather than consumption is the road to take.
ICT Policy
What is the purpose of ICT in Nigeria? What is independence
without purpose? Or are the country simply spending money and shooting in the
dark? What values should ICT reflect? On what foundation is the ICT
sector being built? And the question of sustainability is always
there. ICT must go somewhere. We must reject the action of a
barber's chair.
There must be purpose and direction if ICT will help in
achieving national development objectives. No nation can perform at
its best without concrete, well-thought-out and working ICT
strategies.
The government had the foresight to develop and produce the
Nigerian
National ICT For Development (ICT4D) Strategic Action Plan through
multi-stakeholder participation
in June, 2008.
However, the policy needs to be implemented to make a difference.
It is not
enough to spend money on ICT. It is not enough to have policies.
Without policy implementation and coordination the results
are waste, duplication and ineffectiveness.
In fact
policies must be continually tried and tested to identify the
best ways to drive development through ICT.
Through policy implementation, the government must provide
consistent, clearer and purposeful leadership to guide the national ICT agenda.
Since ICT is a priority for growth, establishing an enabling
environment which supports development of ICT should be pursued more
vigorously at all levels of government and ICT policies must be
mainstreamed into national development programs (strategies,
policies and implementation).
Way Forward - This generation must fulfill its mission
Independence is more than a ceremony.
Independence means the economy must be in better shape and overall
quality of life for all should be improved. ICT is more than
consumption. It offers Nigeria freedom,
independence - a way to leapfrog into the knowledge economy
and the information society. The alternative is digital
oppression. God forbid!
The challenges are enormous, and the sector is up against
multiple obstacles in trying to achieve national objectives. A lot
needs to be done for real independence. However, as Nigeria marks
the 49th anniversary of its independence
Nigerians must face the future of ICT in Nigeria with confidence,
energy and enthusiasm. There is no point moaning and
complaining. We always have a choice. We can accept things as they
are or work on making things better.
ICT provides practical ways of diversifying the economy away
from its overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector. From
the above it should be clear that Nigeria
needs to leverage better on ICT to jump-start growth and
development.
Real independence comes from widespread
penetration of
world class
ICT. Research, awareness, local language content, ICT
localization and human capacity development, entrepreneurship are
keys to freedom for unlocking the future.
Individual initiatives in ICT are great. They show how
enterprising the people of Nigeria are, despite weaknesses and
hostility in the environment. Notwithstanding the wasted
opportunities, Nigerians keep pushing and pressing. They channel
their disgust and anger with the squander into self reliance
efforts. Nigerians must continually embrace this “never-say-die”
attitude that rejects analogue and digital slavery. However,
the need for quality leadership has never been
greater. Leadership comes with responsibility to society.
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Beyond individual empowerment activities Nigerians must
challenge leadership in all sectors and hold them accountable!
“Is this your country or our country?” Enough is enough!
Leadership is not about telling stories. It is the duty of
Nigerians to ensure that leaders do not sleep on the job.
Leadership must deliver. Otherwise what really is the point of
leadership?
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Strong and responsible leadership is required NOW to drive
significant progress. We all have a role to play and leadership
must play its part to ensure that ICT has the desired national
impact.
-
True independence requires leadership that understands and
appreciates the role of ICT. It is one that thinks and acts with
sincerity and commitment to achieve overall growth and
prosperity.
-
We must not be left behind.
Independence is about a generation fulfilling its mission.
I wish the people and friends of Nigeria a happy anniversary
and true independence. God bless the good people of Nigeria. God
bless Nigeria.
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and Nigeria
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Jide Awe
Jide Awe is the Founder of Jidaw.com
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