I.T and the knowledge driven economy

The initial phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was hosted by the Swiss government some years back and a broad range of themes concerning the information society was addressed culminating in the adoption of a declaration of principles and plan of action. This was widely perceived as the foundation for better informed societies which of course is an indispensable ingredient for stable economies in our present information-driven world that is taking advantage of fast reliable gigabit data networks, IP telephony (VOIP) and global satellite communications and positioning technologies such as Galileo, the much publicized European version of GPS. African nations, more or less called developing nations (or third world countries as we’ve been christened) certainly stand to benefit more from this transcontinental initiative.

The pace of change brought about by information, communication and other technologies has had a significant effect on the way people live, work, and play worldwide. New and emerging technologies challenge the traditional process of teaching and learning, and the way education is managed. Information technology, while an important area of study in its own right, is having a major impact across all curriculum areas. Easy worldwide communication provides instant access to a vast array of data, challenging assimilation and assessment skills. Rapid communication, plus increased access to IT in the home, at work, and in educational establishments, could mean that learning becomes a truly lifelong activity—an activity in which the pace of technological change forces constant evaluation of the learning process itself.

The benefits of an informed society can not be overemphasized. Even the government will have to worry less about its citizens when they have been adequately exposed to constantly evolving technologies that have totally redefined the way we think, work, live and recreate as foremost creatures of God’s divine creation. A vivid example is the nation that has assumed the status of ‘world police’. One reason the United States government can afford to vest so much time, energy and finance into other nations and provide cross continental is simply because she has in place a solid well structured information system that adequately caters for the needs of her highly esteemed citizenry.
Reliable statistics show that in the United States, with a population of about three hundred million (300 000 000), there are approximately 4000 internet hosts per 10 000 people. That’s an incredible 5 persons to 2 on-line computers!

I however need to clarify that I do recognize the efforts of industry and government in improving the standard of education and ICT awareness in the country. Worthy of mention is the annual sponsorship of the NACOSS software exhibition/competition amounting to six figures by System-Specs, a Lagos based Software Company
However, if developed nations such as the United Kingdom and America still vote several hundred million sterling and greenbacks annually for I.T education purposes, then our government can definitely still do a lot more in infiltrating I.T deep into the core of the society and amongst the youths of this great nation. A worthy example is an educational information technology initiative in the U.K known as the National Grid for Learning (NGfL), launched by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair. The NGfL is an interconnected nationwide computer learning network for use in schools, further education, higher education, libraries and even homes which provides a range of educational resources and functions as a forum for the world of education.

In a time when wealth has become a direct function of both the knowledge you possess and the speed at which you can access information, I can establish the fact that there is a critical need for government to invest much more than ever before in enlightening her citizenry on the importance and possibilities of information technology. Recent Statistics have shown that about forty-three percent (43%) of the 130 million Nigerian population fall under 15 years of age and more than half are certainly youths, hence, the need for youths harnessing such tools as information technology for socio-economic development is of extreme importance..

In conclusion, I would like to state that for us as a nation to achieve sustained economic growth and stability, we must with a sense of patriotism and a strong will to succeed take out the challenges facing us as a nation. I strongly urge government, industry and well meaning Nigerians to give their unwitting support to youth empowerment initiatives especially in the field of information technology so that we can be rest assured that a bright future indeed, awaits Nigeria.
Long live I.T, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the African Union .