SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ICT IN NIGERIA By Prof. G.O. Ajayi Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Abuja, Nigeria at UNESCO , France 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com Introduction Every nation has a price to pay for technological development. Science and Technology is the bedrock of this development. The Science & Technology sector in general and Information & Communications Technology (ICT), in particular, represent areas that must be addressed for sustainable technological growth. Three technological waves driving global economic development are: Information Technology Material Science Biotechnology Technology is changing at an unprecedented rate and, without the proper machinery in place, one stands the risk of being left behind 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com Statistics on Nigeria Nigeria is a nation of about 120 million people; According to the African Development Report of the year 2001, our GDP per capita is $310. 54% of labour force works in agriculture, 40% in services and 6% in industry. 44% of Nigerians are below 15 years and they have a lot of potentials 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Science & Technology in Nigeria The Federal ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) was established with the mandate to "Encourage, support and co-ordinate scientific and industrial research of all kinds." The FMST has a number of parastatals and research institutes with the task of carrying out this mandate. Before this administration, very little priority was accorded the FMST and this limited the effectiveness of the units under the FMST 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com Changing Role of FMST The following policies have been developed and approved: Information Technology Biotechnology Space Science and Technology A very tangible dividend of democracy in the Science & Technology sector is the necessary national priority accorded the sector FMST also has an improved status and image Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has since constituted an Honorary Presidential Council on science and technology The Council consists of distinguished international scientists who meet twice a year in Nigeria to advise Mr. President The Federal Executive Council has declared Biotechnology and ICT as national priorities. FMST has agencies for these two sectors 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Changing Role of FMST contd. This is the first time that FMST will be treated as a priority ministry in the budget Plans are underway to build an Abuja Technology Park A holistic National Science & Technology policy, incorporating all related policies, is in the offing A national science and technology bill is on its way to the National Assembly A science village- Sheda Science And Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja- is now in existence and operational 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com ICT in Nigeria Nigeria has often been referred to as the Sleeping Giant of Africa; we indeed slept even on the world’s ICT stage. For instance we only started impacting on the African Internet picture in mid ’98 The Federal Government is aware that Nigeria is lagging behind in the ICT race. This has led to the government declaring ICT as a national priority in 2001. Although we are starting late, we are determined to develop our ICT infrastructure with a universal access capability in the shortest time. We shall connect our colleges, cities, schools, universities, research institutions and the entire public sector to the Internet. President Olusegun Obasanjo (NICI 2000) 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com ICT in Nigeria contd. A number of positive steps have been taken in the ICT sector since the inception of a democratic government in 1999 These include: The issuance of GSM licences to 3 operators. This has helped double the national teledensity figures in 1 year. The licencing of a Second National Operator The licensing of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) operators to cover all areas of the country, including areas that traditionally do not have access to ICT facilities 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Need for an Information Technology Policy The Federal government has recognized the importance of IT as a major key to economic growth and sustainability. That culminated in a Workshop on the IT Policy in Abuja in March, 2000. The workshop brought together major IT stakeholders like COAN, IT Association (Industries) of Nigeria, CPN, all major stake holders in the Public and the Private sector. 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com The National IT Policy The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National IT Policy in March, 2001. The mission of the policy is to use IT for Education, Creation of Wealth, Poverty Eradication, Job Creation and Global Competitiveness The Vision of the Policy is to: Make Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa and a key player in the Information Society by the year 2005, using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competitiveness. 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

The National IT Policy contd. NITDA was established to: Implement the IT policy Coordinate the development of IT in Nigeria Regulate the IT Sector NITDA has swung into action to implement the policy: Several Awareness Programmes in collaboration with the public and private sector All arms of government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) are being carried along. The President of the Senate commissioned the facilities at NITDA earlier in the year Strategic partnerships with the organized private sector, multinationals, NGOs and the civil society Providing ‘indigenous’ access with projects like the Nigerian-keyboard 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Sectoral Applications of the IT Policy Human Resource Development Infrastructure Governance Research and Development Health Agriculture Urban and Rural Development Trade and Commerce Arts, Culture and Tourism National Security and Law Enforcement Fiscal Measures 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

The National IT Policy- Implementation Strategy Human Resource Capacity Building Institutional Capacity Building Infrastructure Capacity Building 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Human Resource Capacity Building Training indigenous ICT experts is also a focus of the IT Policy. The plan is to train 500,000 indigenous experts in 3 years. Knowledge is potential power and education is the bedrock of any economy. It is important to impart the knowledge of ICTs to our youth from school Nigeria has a large labour force that is yet to be harnessed. A problem of proximity to training centres exists, especially for the many in rural areas. NITDA has been encouraging ICT Skill development among public servants Provision of distance learning facilities and resources will help. Projects like the Open University and Virtual Library will certainly assist us in meeting the training target 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Infrastructure Capacity Building There is a need to build the necessary infrastructure to stimulate growth in the ICT sector. NITDA has embarked on a number of infrastructure-building projects: National Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB). NITDA/State Governments Partnership for VSAT Internet Installations and Broadband Wireless Facilities Rural Internet Resource Centres (RIRC) Mobile Internet Units (MIU) IT Government facilities are now on the increase in all tiers of government Public Service Information Network Presidential Network National Assembly computerisation/IT project A number of indigenous companies now manufacture computer hardware and develop computer programs The organised private sector is investing a lot in ICT. The financial institutions have made the most significant investment in the sector 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com The Nature of the National Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB) A nation wide network combining VSATs and microwave links will connect all the states The Public Service Information Network (PSIN) utilizes the NIIB NIIB will also extend to the Local Government Areas Optical fibre will be used to connect to the Internet backbone eventually SIIB 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Institutional Capacity Building Apart from the National IT Policy, individual states now have their State IT policies The FEC has sent the IT Bill to the National Assembly to give a legal backing to NITDA Other legislations are in progress e.g the e-commerce bill, cyber crimes bill, telemedicine etc. Several seminars have been held for decision makers in the public and private sector with a view to making them give ICT the necessary priority in their establishments 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com e-government Project E-government has become very necessary in Nigeria for a number of reasons: The population density in the urban areas is very high because people migrate for essentials like access to quality education and proximity to government services There are risks in traveling long distances to get access to government services There is increased efficiency and improved quality of life for the citizens when governance is taken to the people, regardless of their location- citizen centred governance On its part, government is creating the enabling environment for the successful implementation of the project. 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

Areas of Possible Collaboration E-government- development of an e-government gateway/portal Open University Virtual Library Virtual Laboratory Baseline Studies Strategic Implementation Plan for IT in socio-economic development plan of Nigeria 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com Conclusion Nigeria has the potential for a viable ICT and Science & Tech sector. With the continued provision of an enabling environment and support from our international friends like UNESCO, the sector can experience rapid growth and stimulate various sectors of the economy Thank you and God bless 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com

gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com Contact Address Prof. G.O. Ajayi Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Plot 695 Port-Harcourt Crescent Area 11 Garki Abuja-Nigeria Tel: +234-9-3142923, +234-9-3142925 Fax: +234-9-3142924 E-mail: gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com Website: www.nitda.gov.ng 24/11/2018 gajayi@nitda.gov.ng, gajayi@yahoo.com