ICT INNOVATION IN NIGERIA


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INTRODUCTION
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a terminology has overtaken Information Technology (IT) because of its appropriateness, its utilitarianism. Whereas IT was used to describe the new technology in the mid-80s up to mid –90s, focusing on the computer, ICT since the beginning of this decade, is a new concept that emphasizes the use of technology for development. Information and Communications Technology emphasizes the uses of the computer and other technologies such as telephone to process, transport, and transfer voice and other data singularly or mixed with least interference or distortion of content.


HISTORY OF ICT IN NIGERIA

The Nigerian community/populace has started appreciating the importance of ICT tools in their day-to-day activities, which stimulates rapid developments in any economy. ICT tools are of benefit to the Nigerian economy, because ICT tool includes all forms of technology used to create, store, manipulate, manage, move, display, switch, interchange, transmit or receive information into its various forms. Also, ICT tools can be used to handle information and aid communication in the Nigerian economy.
The ICT Revolution started in Nigeria after return to democratic rule in 1999. The country had gone through an extended period of military dictatorship prior to this time. This came with an attendant apathy for the development of a platform for developing ICT in the country. In some cases, it was even believed that ICT would pose a security threat! It dawned on the government that the digital divide would only continue to widen except the issue of developing ICT in the country was given the priority attention required. This is one sector, which has witnessed tremendous progress in the last four years.


AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
• To enumerate and expatiate on the practice of information and communication technology in Nigeria.
• To discuss how ICT began in Nigeria
• To review the challenges of the practice of ICT in Nigeria
• To also enumerate the how Nigeria has been affected by the practice of information and communication technology



THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY 2000.

In May 2000, the federal government came out with a National Telecommunications Policy, which recognizes that an efficient, reliable and affordable telecommunication system is a key factor in the overall development of any nation, and that such a system must be universally accessible and cost-effective. The overriding objective of the Policy is to achieve the modernization and rapid expansion of the telecommunication, network and services, with the ultimate goal of making telecommunications service, efficient, affordable reliable and available to all.