The quest for Nigerians to have affordable
information and communication technologies (ICTs) services has long been
on the front burner. Last week in Abuja, telecommunications operators,
experts, regulators and ministers from Commonwealth nations gathered to
proffer ways out of Nigeria's dilemma. In this report, CHIMA AKWAJA
x-rays what needs to be done to remove the barriers
Last week, two major events occurred simultaneously, one was in Geneva, Switzerland while the other was in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. In Geneva, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency that regulates information and communications technologies (ICTs) released a report which measures the progress nations make with ICT. In Abuja, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) member states gathered to push Nigeria to jump-start her much talked about broadband policy towards effective implementation.
The ITU's "Measuring The Information Society 2013" a report which rates ICT Development Index (IDI) of nations, the progress they have made in the last one year, contains the latest figures and rankings of each nation, measuring their level of ICT access, use and skills. Conspicuously, Nigeria was there. But a discerning look shows that whereas Nigeria jumped two places from 124 to 122 in the 2012 ICT Development Index, this 2013 edition shows that Nigeria has remained on the same spot 122 for the past 12 months.
ITU's ICT Development Index ranks 157 countries according to their level of ICT access, use and skills, and compares 2011 and 2012 scores. It is widely recognised by government, UN agencies and industry as the most accurate and impartial measure of overall national ICT development. Some African countries ahead of Nigeria include South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana and Kenya.
While the report identifies a group of "most dynamic countries", which have recorded above-average improvements in their IDI rank or value over the past 12 months including (in order of most improved): United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Barbados, Seychelles, Belarus, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Zambia, Australia, Bangladesh, Oman and Zimbabwe; our own dear country, Nigeria has however stagnated on the same spot with nothing to show for it.
The report also identifies the countries with the lowest IDI levels - the so-called Least Connected Countries (LCCs). Home to 2.4 billion people - one third of the world's total population - the Least Connected Countries are also the countries that could potentially derive great benefits from better access to and use of ICTs in areas such as health, education and employment.
What your view over this.....
Last week, two major events occurred simultaneously, one was in Geneva, Switzerland while the other was in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. In Geneva, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency that regulates information and communications technologies (ICTs) released a report which measures the progress nations make with ICT. In Abuja, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) member states gathered to push Nigeria to jump-start her much talked about broadband policy towards effective implementation.
The ITU's "Measuring The Information Society 2013" a report which rates ICT Development Index (IDI) of nations, the progress they have made in the last one year, contains the latest figures and rankings of each nation, measuring their level of ICT access, use and skills. Conspicuously, Nigeria was there. But a discerning look shows that whereas Nigeria jumped two places from 124 to 122 in the 2012 ICT Development Index, this 2013 edition shows that Nigeria has remained on the same spot 122 for the past 12 months.
ITU's ICT Development Index ranks 157 countries according to their level of ICT access, use and skills, and compares 2011 and 2012 scores. It is widely recognised by government, UN agencies and industry as the most accurate and impartial measure of overall national ICT development. Some African countries ahead of Nigeria include South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana and Kenya.
While the report identifies a group of "most dynamic countries", which have recorded above-average improvements in their IDI rank or value over the past 12 months including (in order of most improved): United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Barbados, Seychelles, Belarus, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Zambia, Australia, Bangladesh, Oman and Zimbabwe; our own dear country, Nigeria has however stagnated on the same spot with nothing to show for it.
The report also identifies the countries with the lowest IDI levels - the so-called Least Connected Countries (LCCs). Home to 2.4 billion people - one third of the world's total population - the Least Connected Countries are also the countries that could potentially derive great benefits from better access to and use of ICTs in areas such as health, education and employment.
What your view over this.....
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