ICTs and Human Development in Nigeria

Abstract

ICTs have successfully changed the social, economic and political spaces globally. Through globalisation, ICTs have reduced the world to a global clan and assumed a cyclopean force driving human civilisation by the scruff. The impact of ICTs has virtually diffused through all sectors, forcing technological changes and creating a culture of dependence on technology. In Nigeria, the presence of ICTs has become ubiquitous and its knowledge has deepened. However, the use of ICTs for human development purposes has remained grossly limited. ICTs have only been co-opted for the creation of web portals, email addresses, B2B, B2C interactions and for inconsequential undertakings. The use of ICTs for educational and manpower development, knowledge transmission, health education, research and development, medical treatment and others for human development purposes is yet embryonic. This may not be unconnected with the byzantine socio-economic crises like spotty power supply, moribund infrastructure, witless political leadership, lack of priority in investments by the state, endemic official corruption and a host of challenges facing the Nigerian state. To assume a pole position in the present knowledge economy, Nigeria needs to find that nexus between ICTs and its human development needs. This study is cast against the backcloth of the Diffusion of Innovations and Human Development Theories which support the diffusion of ICT-enabled human development programmes in Nigeria to realise true development. This paper argues that the political leadership in Nigeria will benefit more at a fragment of the cost when it adopts ICTs in catalysing its human development programmes. In addition, resolving some of the embedded social and ethical problems facing the country will free resources for the government to invest massively in ICTs that could help it leap-frog its human development challenges and improve the lives of its citizens.

Extension Practitioners Perception and Constraints on ICT Use in Southwestern Nigeria

“…This implies that respondents from non-public organizations tend to have minimal constraints to ICT use probably due to greater access they have to using these ICT tools in their various organizations for their extension activities. This finding authenticates (Imhonopi & Urim, 2011) who found out that inadequate funding of in using communication tools efficiently was the major challenge extension agents from public organizations faced in their extension work. This implies the inability of government to fully support and fund the advancement of extension services in Nigeria through the public sector has generally weaken the extension service delivery system.…”

“…Inadequate funding: The inability of government to fully support and fund the advancement of extension services in Nigeria through the public sector has generally weaken the extension service delivery system. Instead, irrelevant spending by the government on events that are deemed unimportant has brought about a drawback in the viability of extension service delivery in the country (Imhonopi & Urim, 2011). This can be further corroborated with the insignificant and detailed annual budget allocation to agricultural sector in the country by the federal government for the years 2011 to 2015 as shown in Table 1.…”

Nigeria’s automotive policy and the quest for a viable automotive industry: a lesson for the developing economies

“…Over the years, Nigeria in her quest for industrial development has adopted an eclectic collection of industrial policies including import substitution industrialization, exchange rate adjustment, structural adjustment programmes (SAPs), export promotion and even a combination of these policies but to no avail. The brass tacks needed in place for industrialization and which are lacking in many developing economies include modern technology, congenial industrial environment, internal security, energy robustness and availability and favourable industrial policies (Imhonopi and Urim, 2014). The Nigerian public policy formulation follows the pluralist-interest group theory with many ethnic groups having conflicting and opposing views that influence public policies (Ideobodo et al , 2018).…”

Utilization of E-Resources for Learning Among Undergraduates

“…ICT is a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, store and manage information. Imhonopi and Urim (2011) noted that ICTs are modern technologies that facilitate information gathering, processing, transmission, storage and comprise hardware and software components that can be put to heterogeneous use through digitalization connecting individuals and institutions over wide swathes of a geographical area. They further stated that the emergence of ICTs has provided the means for faster and better communication and utilization of information between users, be they individuals, groups, businesses, organizations, or government.…”