Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we!

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Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we in Economic Development?

(A Critical Examination of the Social, Economic, Technical and Policy Growth, with respect to the expansion of Information and Communications Infrastructure in Nigeria)

ABSTRACT

The trend of globalization and the spread of ICT has taken an important place in the African development agenda; but, more than just a global demand, the presence of information and communication technologies (ICT) has somewhat carved out an alternative path to development. Notwithstanding the urgency and enthusiasm with using this new medium for social and economic change, the Internet has brought about negative as well as positive contributions to development in Africa.
Of about 1000 COMMUNICATION SATELLITES LAUNCHED into Space just few were from Africa while the greatest are from Asian and Europe. Egypt has the highest in Africa with just 4, South Africa has only 2 while Nigeria lunched 2 in 2003 and 2007 but successful in one while the later on November 11, 2008, NigComSat-1 failed

in orbit after running out of power due to an anomaly in its solar array(NIGCOMSAT 2011 Newsletter).

We have to focus on Advanced Information Technology, for ourselves and by ourselves. His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor, Imo State Nigeria, said if we want the future to be bright then education/ e-learning must be right. Therefore, if we must ensure
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Genuine development cannot take place in a continent that is full of leaders who are indifferent to the plight of its citizens. These leaders are lured by the profit business motives of multinational companies that come to invest in their countries at the expense of local industries struggling to stay afloat.

Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we!

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economics stability, adequate and safe food supply for an expanding world of Africa and must develop an Economic System that will intervene in the mechanism of African Growth we have to go ICT in all our dealings. This article examines how Information Technology (IT) will contribute and has contributed in promoting economic development initiatives in Nigeria and African as a whole. The emergence of the new technologies requires quick skill in innovation and integration which is influenced by a profound access to e-assessed economic valuable knowledge.

Introduction
An information society is one that makes the best possible use of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs). Martin (1995) supports this view by describing it as a society in which the quality of life, as well as prospects for social change and economic development, depend increasingly upon information and its exploitation. In such a society, living standards, patterns of work and leisure, the educational system, and marketplace are all influenced by advances in information and knowledge. This is evidenced by an increasing array of information intensive products and services (Martin, 1988). For example bandwidth, idirect satellite, SCPC/DVB Satellite, microwave, local loop e.t.c. Annan (2002) notes that the information society is a way for human capacity to be expanded, built, nourished, and liberated by giving people access to tools and technologies, with the education and training to use them effectively. There is a unique opportunity to connect and assist those living in the poorest and most isolated regions of the world. Informatization of society is a major hurdle
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that most nations, especially developing countries, are encountering. The information society or information age is a phenomenon that began after 1950, which brings challenges as we seek to integrate and expand the importance of ICT. The African Information Society (AISI) document (2005) argues that Africa would have built, by the year 2010, an information society in which every man, woman, child, village, public and private sector office has secured access to the use of computers and telecommunications media (Obaidjevwe Ogbomo, Esoswo
Ogbomo. Library Philosophy and Practice 2008 (December).

The objective is to provide every African with the possibility of using the communication and data processing services available everywhere else, just like any other citizens of the world. The Question now is this is 2012 where are we in ICT? What do we do to put our continent on the fast track of growth in Technological Advancement?
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

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According to Melkote and Steeves, (2001), if development has to take place in a country, the people have to be liberated first. Their opinions are equally shared by Paolo Friere (1970) who admits that conscientization of the masses in this case through information dissemination is the key to achieving success with development. But government leaders must be willing to embrace development and be prepared to withstand the challenges. Genuine development cannot take place in a continent that is full of leaders who are indifferent to the plight of its citizens (Mbayo et al., 1995). These leaders are lured by the profit business motives of multinational companies that come to invest in their countries at the expense of local industries struggling to stay afloat. These outside companies that are coming to invest in Africa in general are all

Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we!

FOSS/5th African Conference in Abuja Abatan Sunday Matthew, 2012

driven by greed. This is corroborated by Mitiku and Dirk (2006): Third world countries are currently dominated under neocolonialism. In their view, local leaders are political elites who are advocating capitalist conservative values and are driven by mutual self interest with the western capitalist (p. 127 emphasis added). The article goes on to emphasize the point that African politicians are lured by self-centered motives when endorsing foreign investments in the continent.

Focus on the Early Stage of Information Technology

The convergence of the computer industry, electronics and telecommunications into an integrated system, leading to the development of new industries and service activities was accentuated by the rapid diffusion of ICT during the 1990s. The industrial and technological changes, with their relentless rise, have contributed to a renewal of the terms of debating on ways out of the impasse of underdevelopment by increasing access opportunities to knowledge. According to international institutions, ICT should be put to serve its role in economic growth and thereby spur and maintain economic development. The emergence of telecommunication in Nigeria in 2001 brought tremendous changes to the economic advancement in Nigeria. Now in Nigeria we can talk of cashless society, e-commerce, through the wing of ICT. IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ECONOMIC GROWTH Why we need to rise up to meet up with ICT global standard is based on its importance: Information technology does not only determine the market share and profitability of individual companies in tomorrow's
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Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we!

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global economy, but it also has a huge impact on future generations of workers and on a country's economic prospects. The implication is that Countries that invest in and adopt information technology will move ahead quickly while those that fail to rapidly adopt information technology will be left behind. Perez and Soete (1998) pointed out that, windows of opportunity could exist for developing countries during transition periods of economic systems, marked by the emergence of new technologies. The originality of their approach is to recommend the implementation of a strategy of technological leap on the advent of a technological paradigm. ICT can enhance teaching and learning through its dynamic, interactive, and engaging content; and it can provide real opportunities for individualised instruction. Information and communication technology has the potential to accelerate, enrich, and deepen skills; motivate and engage students in learning; helps to relate school experiences to work practices; helps to create economic viability for tomorrows workers; contributes to radical changes in school; strengthens teaching, and provides opportunities for connection between the school and the world (Davis and Tearle, 1999; Lemke and Coughlin, 1998). To further its role as a knowledge center, the Bank is making available-through the Internet-its publications as well as the large body of information of their customers available to ensure effective cashless society now presently practice in Lagos Nigeria. The Bank Group could also disseminate knowledge on the use of information among themselves through the help of ICT. In research, ICT provides opportunities for schools to communicate with one another through email, search engines, mailing lists, chat rooms, and so on. It also provides

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Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we!

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quicker and easier access to more extensive and current information, and it can be used to do complex mathematical and statistical calculations. With the help of ICT, people around the world now can relate with one another via social networks like facebook, twitter, 2go, Skype, and so on. These facilities have made the world globally networked. NATIONAL POLICY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA In order to husband the potentials of ICT, most nations of the world have evolved national information and communication technology policies, to serve as a framework for ICT integration in all facets of the society. African countries, and particularly Nigeria, are not exceptions to this practice. The digital divide between advanced and developing countries, particularly in Africa, is well established. Like most African countries, Nigeria as a nation, came late and slowly in the use of ICT in all sectors of the nations life. Although Africa has 12 per cent of the total world population, the continent has two per cent presence in ICT use (Yusuf, 2005 and Jensen, 2002). In Africa, there is low access to basic ICT equipment, low internet connectivity, low participation in the development of ICT equipment, and even low involvement in software development. In fact, New York City has higher Internet connectivity than the whole of Africa (Ajayi, 2002; Hall, 1998). A significant leap was made when the Nigerian government in October of 1999 issued a document on telecommunications development strategy and investment opportunities in Nigeria. Similarly, in October 1999, the National Policy on Telecommunication was approved (Ajayi, 2002). The document contained policy statements on objectives, structure, competition policy, satellite communication, management structure, finance and
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funding, manpower development and training, internet, research and development, safety and security, international perspectives, and policy implementation and review (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2000). The national policy on telecommunication was a key step in the development of infrastructural base for ICT. In 2001, the Federal Government approved the Nigerian National Policy for Information Technology (IT), and followed this up with the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which was charged with the implementation of the policy (Ajayi, 2002).

EVALUATION OF NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY ON EDUCATION

POLICY

FOR

INFORMATION

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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy, as noted by Rowland (1996) and cited in Hafkin (2002), can be categorised into vertical, infrastructural, and horizontal policies. Vertical ICT policy addresses sectoral needs, such as education, health and tourism. The infrastructural aspect deals with the development of national infrastructure and this is closely linked with telecommunication. The horizontal aspect deals with the impact on broader aspects of society such as freedom of information, tariff and pricing, privacy and security. These three aspects are adequately addressed in the Nigerian IT policy Nigerian national policy on information technology (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2001). First, the document mission statement recognized the need To Use IT for Education (p. iii). In addition, the general objectives in three (xv, xvi and xxiv) of the 31 stated objectives stressed that information technology must be used to:

Info-Tech in African Countries! Where are we!

FOSS/5th African Conference in Abuja Abatan Sunday Matthew, 2012

xv) Empower the youth with IT skills and prepare them for global competitiveness. xvi) Integrate IT into the mainstream of education and training. xxiv) Establish new multifaceted IT institutions as Centres of Excellence to ensure Nigerias competitiveness in international markets (pp. iv v). In order to achieve these objectives, 20 strategies were outlined. The fifth strategy was stated in this way: Restructuring the education system at all levels to respond effectively to the challenges and imagined impact of the information age and in particular, the allocation of a special IT development fund to education at all levels (p. vi). It should be underscored that although as the mission, general objectives, and strategies recognised the importance of ICT in education, the document has no sectoral (vertical) application to education. Issues relating to education are subsumed under sectoral application for human resources development.

Why We need to review this Policy

First, the objectives and strategies related to education as reflected in the sectoral application for human resource development are market driven. The focus is only on learning about ICT, which is regarded as Topicality, whereas for primary and secondary schools the focus is regarded as the early stage of ICT use in education (Cloke and Sharif, 2001). This philosophy limits the potential of ICT in education to a central force in economic competitiveness. Its potentials as a tool for addressing challenges in teaching and learning and as change agent are thus neglected (Culp, Honey and Mandinach, 2003). Students need not learn about computers only; ICT should be integrated for the development and management of teaching and learning in Nigerian schools.
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SECONDLY, teachers are indispensable for successful learning about ICT, and learning and teaching through ICT. Computer education introduced into the Nigerian secondary school since 1988 has largely been unsuccessful as a result of teachers incompetence (Yusuf, 1998). Empirical studies have established that teachers ability and willingness to use ICT and integrate it into their teaching is largely dependent on the professional development they receive (Davis, 2003; Pearson, 2003; Selinger and Austin, 2003; Watson, 2001). The Nigerian national IT policy is silent on teacher education and teachers ICT professional development as envisaged by the review of Culp, et al. (2003). FURTHERMORE, Learning through ICT entails the development of nationally relevant context software for school use. The national policy does not recognise the need to create quality software. Emphasis here is the creation of more high quality content and software. The available software in Nigerian schools is imported with no local content. The policy document does not address this issue. Lastly, further recommendation by Culp, et al. (2003) also includes an increase in research, evaluation, and assessment. None of the issues relevant to ICT application in the Nigerian education system address the issue of research, evaluation, and assessment, all of which are critical to ensure success. Research, evaluation, and assessment should address access, professional development, use and competence, attitude, and so on.
March 19, 2023

NIGCOMSAT UPDATE
NigComSat-1R is a hybrid geostationary satellite located at an orbital position of 42.50 E with a life span of at least 15 years, a
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total of 40 transponders which will provide optimal and cost effective voice, data, video, internet and application services solutions. NigComSat-1R is a replacement satellite for NigComSat1 Satellite. It is a critical ICT backbone infrastructure to drive the National ICT revolution in providing revenue diversification for the Nation and offering cost effective solution and affordable access to meet Nigerias telecommunications, broadcast, aviation, maritime, defense and security needs. The House Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) were at the Ground Station of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Wednesday, December 7, 2011. In his brief to the Committee, the Managing Director, Engr. Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, reiterated what NIGCOMSAT could achieve for the country in terms of boosting national security. He said, You know satellite is a transmission infrastructure. In terms of national security, it is going to aid the exchange of information among security agencies; seamless exchange of sensitive intelligence information across board. What is happening now is that most of the institutions are existing in silos; they have information restricted to themselves. So you find out a situation whereby the State Security Service (SSS) is not communicating much with the Police and other security agencies. The Managing Director also announced that NigComSat-1R, the replacement satellite for NigComSat-1, which was deorbited in November 2008, after eighteen months of operation, has been launched in China on December 19, 2011. He said the Management, its technical partners and all relevant parties had worked expeditiously on the replacement satellite. Benefits of NIGCOMSAT-1R will include Hybrid payload design, stronger footprints and centre beams over the African continent, better looking angles and shorter latency for intra Africa communication traffic, high fade margins compensation for attenuation losses due
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to rain etc. The target applications of NIGCOMSAT-1R include but are not limited to: telecommunications, broadcasting, internet, realtime monitoring services, navigation and global positioning systems. It will also create partnerships, leasing of transponders at affordable prices and research collaborations, he added.(www.nigcomsat.com,report,accessed Feb,2012) My Question to NIGCOMSAT is if what they promised is to boost national security with newly launched satellite, why have we not seen the hideout of Boko Haram thus far?

Overview of the State of ICT in Nigerian University Libraries

The literature affirms that quality of a university can be judged by the content and quality of the service offered by the library. Due to economic conditions and government apathy, the content and quality of services of most Nigerian university libraries have deteriorated to such a level that the quality of the products of such universities has also been adversely affected. The National Universities Commission (NUC) set up a Quality Control Division (QCD) which did research to test the quality of Nigerian university academic programmes. The NUC set up benchmarks for each academic programme which were evaluated and scored based on the following criteria:

Criteria Staffing

Percent 32

Academic 23
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Content Physical Facilities Library Funding 25 12 05

Employers' 03 Rating Total 100

Academic programmes must have a score of 70 percent or above in each of the core areas of Staffing, Academic Content, Physical Facilities, and the Library in order to get full accreditation. The result of the 2005 NUC Accreditation Exercise was shocking. A total of 102 academic programmes (7.l6%) were not only denied accreditation but also barred from admitting new students. 4 Programmes in universities that failed to get a score of 12 percent in the quality of library services were denied accreditation. NUC's prima facie case about the deteriorating quality of academic activities in Nigerian universities was made by the result of the 2005 accreditation exercise. A close examination of those university libraries where the academic programmes were denied accreditation reveals that most do not have adequate ICT facilities. On the other hand, most of the libraries in which the programmes received full or interim accreditation had a functional Internet caf, in addition to other ICT facilities.

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The world has become so information conscious that people are no longer satisfied with paper- and print-based library services. An information revolution has threatened traditional library practices and services. Librarians must embrace this revolution and participate actively and effectively in it in order to remain relevant, especially in universities. RECOMMENDATIONS The following are areas we have place our attention if we need to improve in Information Technology: We have to focus on Advanced Information Technology, for ourselves and by ourselves. His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Governor, Imo State Nigeria, said if we want the future to be bright then education/ e-learning must be right. Therefore, if we must ensure economics stability, adequate and safe food supply for an expanding world of Africa and must develop an Economic System that will intervene in the mechanism of African Growth we have to go ICT in all our dealings. Looking at the role of education in the development of any society, the school will be indispensable in developing an ICT culture of any country. The school must provide effective leadership in ICT integration, through research, modeling of effective integration of ICT, and provision of opportunities for professional development of citizens of a country. We must Develop an Economic System that will intervene in the mechanism of African Growth. In order to achieve the objectives for human resources development, nine major strategies are outlined (Yusuf 2005).
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These strategies are targeted at the building of knowledge and skills in information technology. These include

(a) Making the use of ICT mandatory at all levels of educational institutions; (b) Development of ICT curricular for primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions; (c) Use of ICT in distance education; (d) ICT companies investment in education; (e) Study grant and scholarship on ICT; (f) Training the trainer scheme for National Youth Service Corp members (g) ICT capacity development at zonal, state, and local levels; (h) Growth of private and public sector dedicated ICT primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions (i) Working with international and domestic initiatives for transfer of ICT knowledge. CONCLUSION
The emerging global infrastructure could make it increasingly possible for future leaders (students) to study and carry out research using the electronic networks to reach remote universities and libraries. Physicians could remote-view entire images and patient data, diagnose diseases and perform consultations with outside sites. Decision makers would be able to promote effective economic management and good governance; and for businesses to compete more effectively with timely and accurate market information. Security Agencies in Nigeria and Africa at large would be able to ransack the society very easily, communicate with one another and
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ensure maximum security of lives and property within and outside our precincts (boundaries) to name a few. For Africa, information and telecommunication innovations present opportunities for "leapfrog" strategies that could accelerate the development of the continent. To exploit these opportunities, African countries need, as a matter of priority, to upgrade their capabilities through the improvement of their telecommunication infrastructures and the acquisition of modern computers and ICT related equipment.
Thank you. Abatan Sunday M. Technologist Federal University, Oye abatansmo@yahoo.com +234(0)8066066472. Sunday.abatan@fuoye.edu.ng

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