By Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata

The National Information Technology Policy (NITP) received a boost with two recent events; one at Imode Community, Kwara State and the other at University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State. NITP seeks to make Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa and a key player in the information society by using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competiveness.

So, it was an emotional day on September 30, 2017 as Imode Community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State commissioned as a 40 computer- capacity Digital Literacy Center (DiLiCe).

No doubt, this smart move will definitely bequeath the community a ‘digital smart community’ status in no distant time, delivering a decent living and respectable future to its people, irrespective of their social status.

Imode Development Association (IDA) deserve commendation for its vision to make the community dwellers, especially the youths, become IT complaint and ‘netizens’ in the information society by using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competiveness. The most interesting part is that it was a wholly community initiated, sponsored and executed project. A project of such magnitude with less than N10million is rare these days, but that is the way to go is we are serious about digital literacy.

Speaking at the recent public presentation of the solar-powered excellent Digital Literacy Center (DiLiCe), equipped with modern ICT infrastructure to support the education and curiosity of every citizen within and around the community, the President, Imode Development Association (IDA), Pastor Joseph Babatunde, said the project, were to assist the students imbibe the IT culture as the world has gone digital. I dare to say that this must not be limited to the students alone. Digital Literacy has become a right, hence every ruralite deserves to know what goes on in the world of information (and communication) technology.

Babatunde actually gave little insight to what prompted this project. He said, “I recall with joy that the idea of the provision of a modern IT Centre for our school came to me a couple of years ago when one of my children did the post-JAMB exam in University of Ilorin (Unilorin). The students were all given computers to do the exams. While she breezed through the exams, most of the other children were just starring at the device until the time was over. I felt challenged there and then, to give every child that needed opportunity”.

So disappointing! How come the organisers of these examinations care-less about the computer competences of the students? This reflects the challenge faced by students in over 744 local governments in Nigeria. You will be making mistake to think every student in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt is exposed to digital knowledge. We must do the needful by equipping the local communities with digital tools and centers; that is if the national IT policy is something we are serious about.

I am particularly impressed with further explanation given by Reverend Sunday Folayan, IDA’s Vice President, who stated that “Imode ICT Vision- will be achieved by reliance on technology, carefully backed up with traditional methods that are functional. A significant number of indigenes will continue to live outside the community or the country, and their needs and requirements to stay connected to their roots will continue to inform the community’s development policies. ICT will be used to solve practical problems, such as educational deficiency as well as the security of lives and properties”.

If I understand Folayan’s statement, most aspects of the community’s engagement activities will be conducted electronically towards widening access and participation especially with its citizens in the diaspora, using appropriate technologies. In other words, members of the Community will come to accept a high standard of up-to-date facilities, ease-of-use and reliability, richness of information, integrated services and excellent support. What is more heartwarming than this!

The icing on the cake was the IDA’s contact with Paradigm Initiative (PI) to conduct training and capacity building. I urge every community based association in Nigeria to borrow a leaf from this laudable project, even as I encourage IDA to adequately capture the depreciating cost of the centre, so as to ensure that the spirit called lack of maintenance culture is defeated.

…UNN, Crestsage Commission Lion Laptop Assembly Complex

Good news! University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) scored another first on October 6, 2017 with the commissioning of Nigeria’s first indigenous (university) laptop assembly complex.

This is a significant project, as the Complex with a capacity to produce 100,000 laptops a year will deliver jobs for not less than 500 people.

Why am I excited here? This was not delivered by a foreign firm, rather an alumnus of famous tertiary institution- Engr Charles Emembolu, the CEO of Crestsage Limited, a Lagos-based indigenous Technology company under a management arrangement with BOC (Benefitting Our Community) Innovations Limited, initiated and delivered the project.

This is a boost to 2015 conceived ‘one laptop per student’ initiative set by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, in his bid to ensure 21st century compliant learning for the university students.

Though, this initiative was threatened by the recent high foreign exchange rates hence the vision of this production project, however, Engr Emembolu has demonstrated the ‘die-hard’ spirit of a Nigerian Entrepreneur.

Lion laptop project is critical project due to the ability to deliver local content in the billion-naira industry by value substitution of components with locally available materials and labour.

It will be recalled that Emembolu and some other University Alumni delivered the Roar Nigeria business incubator and technology hub at University of Nigeria in December 2016.

The Lion laptops meets the needs of the Nigerian student matching quality with affordable cost and capacity to produce bespoke specification for different school and government initiative across the country.

Speaking at the event Engr. Emembolu confirmed that the complex will employ about 500 people when producing at full capacity and affirmed the complex offers an on-campus manufacturing and learning environment for the university community, students and researchers.

The strategy is such that the ultra-modern complex will serve as an avenue to empower the youth with much needed applied technology skills to take a leadership role in Nigeria’s economic emancipation.

Yes. We keep saying that Nigeria’s youthful population is an asset that needs to be prepared for a prosperous future of Africa and the world. This a practical step to make this happen, even as this initiative is in line with the vision of the University’s founding fathers, “To restore the dignity of man”.

With these two projects commissioned almost at the same time, it is my hope that we don’t end there; rather it should challenge both government and private entities to innovate and make our nation proud.