Sad! Govt Playing Politics with ICT

No modern economy can exist without fundamental information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure because these are the tool for national and economic development.

In recognition of this truism, some governments around the world are transforming themselves into e-governments to meet the challenges of modern day.

Example is India, where the government deliberately orchestrated chains of events that culminated in making that country one of the pillars of ICT in the world.

Also, through government’s support and political will, Sri Lanka is on the path to becoming regional knowledge hub.

Malaysia also sees ICT as a powerful enabler of development in many sectors and government of the country has begun to harvest and encourage home grown ICT initiatives.

These governments recognize that embracing ICT will result in improved transparency, speedy information dissemination, higher administrative efficiency and improved public service sectors including: transportation, education, health, water, peace and security.

Conventional wisdom supported by imperial economic studies dictates that market forces alone are incapable of accelerating the development of ICT and indeed the economy.

Government must be the unseen hand that weaves the magic wand.

Responsible government is like a catalyst that speed up reaction without seen to be taking part in the reaction.

The proof lies in the fact the gross domestic product (GDP) of Singapore with a population of just over 3 million is over $40,000.

This is made possible by the massive political will of the government of that country.

In Nigeria, the case is different with a GDP of $2000 and seemingly unconcerned leaders.

Nigeria is currently living precariously with over dependence on her depleting oil and gas resources.

The huge disconnect between Nigerian government and ICT is puzzling.

Either by sheer ignorance or refusal to do the right thing at the right time; successive governments in Nigeria have continued to chase shadows.

To show their disregard for the sector, it is on record that no past president of Nigeria has presided over a major ICT event in the country.

Apart from 2002 when Atiku Abubakar, then vice president declared open e-Nigeria, no other high ranking government official in Nigeria has made his or her presence felt in any major ICT event.

Unlike the neighbouring Ghana where even the President sometimes sit through and make meaningful interventions in ICT fora, Nigerian government officials are far removed from ICT events.

Sometimes it is simply because they do not know and are not bothered to learn.

Elsewhere in Uganda, the government of that country has purposely built its development around ICT and it will not be surprising if Nigeria will start importing software and other ICT products from that country soon.

What Uganda has done is not rocket science; they have simply underpinned the regeneration of its economy with strong political will.

Political will is not something Nigerian leaders would have to go extra mile to provide.

It is not also intangible; it takes an individual, generally situated somewhere within the state apparatus (best if the person is at a very high level) to stir ICT revolution.

ICT is the tool used by the leaders of India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Ghana, Uganda and Malaysia to transform their countries.

Nigeria with its wealth of human capital and natural resources has even better potentials but the attention of the ruling class is elsewhere.

They are inclined to putting square peg in a round hole. Appointments to certain sensitive offices suggest that the government is not serious about using ICT as a platform for development.

There are many compelling reasons why government must embrace ICT for development but importantly because it is the only sector that has shown signs of life despite the general meltdown of the economy.

Having tried every known economic trick to steady the economy without any success; ICT remains the only key to redirecting the economy.

The only way forward is for the ruling class to begin to listen actively and show strong commitment to ICT related issues.

Importantly, the President must assume the role of chief technology officer of the country or appoint one he must listen to.

Agreed that some countries have made some successes using ICT as springboards; Nigeria must not copy and paste their models.

She must grow and deliberately too an indigenous architecture if it must survive in this knowledge era.

In this indigenous architecture, Nigeria can incorporate a special purpose ICT vehicle complete with ICT parks as well as research and development parks.

Nigeria can also emulate India that gave blanket exemption from tax to ICT, its largest growing sector.

Also, there is need for ICT practitioners in the country to build a strong and united front to press home their demand for incentives that spur development.