Information technology as it is known today is the application of computers and telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other enterprise. The term is commonly used as a synonym for computers and computer networks, but it also encompasses other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones, according to Wikipedia.
Advanced professionals in their various fields and the younger generation referred to Information technology as the new way of life whose ramifications are almost endless.
These professionals and executives however called on relevant bodies to ensure that people are not left on the crossroad, yearning for more, but to ensure that the available infrastructure are properly harnessed to foster further growth. They also called for cautioned when using the internet.
Effect of Technology
Technology has become an imperative tool for economic and business growth, helping to access, produce and apply information to managing business and developing human capacities. Undoubtedly, the explosion in mobile phone usage in Nigeria has placed the country as the fastest growing market in Africa, giving the country a prospect to enjoy the benefits of technology, on a different level.
Some findings identified a number of values credited to the presence of information technology to the Nigerian people, a number of downsides were also highlighted.
Top on the list of the significance of IT to the people is that it saves time, accelerating the process of finding, sending and/or receiving relevant information, it raises awareness, creates transparency, solves problem, and is also a means of relaxation and entertainment.
“Well, in my time, things were more analogue than digital. Initially, when we saw the desk top computers, they looked big and scary, but now the tablets, smartphones and computes are all fun piece which makes life better,” said a Professor of Chemistry, Yilkur Londip, from the University of Jos as he responded to the question ‘what has technology done for you.’
According to him: “As earlier as 1995 when I was in Manchester, I got myself a PC mostly because it was more expensive to allow someone type for me, and although a little tasking, I mastered it.
“Today, it has made me a better person; I now have access to information, linkages and collaborations with academic and professional colleagues worldwide, it helps in the delivery of my lectures, presentation of talks and discussions at conferences and workshops both locally and internationally and most importantly, it reduces stress for me, because I can work from home. IT has made life easier and better, I wonder how I survived without it in the first place, Londip said with a huge smile.”
A medical doctor practising at the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital in Kaduna State, Dr. Henrietta Ezegbe, also noted IT had definitely made her better.
“Information is a click away, data can be stored and manipulated within an eye bat, and Nigeria hasn’t done badly in terms of IT use as many organisations, corporate bodies, government parastatals, and even individuals are taking fair if not full advantage, but we can do better,” she said.
On the same note, the President of the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria and General Manager Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. David Isiavwe, noted Nigerians were largely beginning to make very good use of the power embedded in technology - from e-commerce, to e-Banking; to worship in churches and governance.
He said: “Indeed, the ramifications are almost endless and given the advantage of the relatively young, massive and vibrant population that we have in Nigeria; it is just apt that we fully harness IT to power our economy and general way of life.”
Organiser at Akwaaba and the Project Director, Seven Wonders of Nigeria, Mr. Ikechi Uko, added: “The rapid development of technology, has made it a partner of tourism supply and demand hence, it plays an important role in tourism marketing, distribution, promotion and co-ordination.
“IT gives timely and accurate information, relevant to consumers’ needs; experienced travellers are increasingly empowered by using information and booking systems independently. In Nigeria today, more than 40 per cent of the Nigeria travellers get information and buy their tickets online, which is a far cry from what was achievable before.”
A top government official who chose not to be mentioned said: “It raises awareness on issues; the government has the responsibility to effectively communicating with the people, keeping them abreast of happenings in the society. This is easily achievable today with the help of the internet; it creates room for transparency as well as trust regarding the tax payers’ money.”
The Shortcomings
It was however noted that despite the wide acceptance of the new technology in Nigeria, most institutions were yet to fully take advantage and even keep abreast of it.
Ezegbe said: “Big institutions say teaching hospitals and other tertiary medical facilities are yet to take advantage of the wonders of IT in the medical field; if staff can be encouraged to take full advantage, clinic flow would be awesome.”
According to her, “It can drive innovation in the work practice, improve care processes, and impact on efficiency and productivity. Imagine a clinic where you walk into and everything is done electronically; no case notes, no long waits, everything computerised, accessible and easy. If IT can be applied to medical practice, I would say it would be a quantum leap.”
Ezegbe suggested early incorporating of basic IT and computer studies to students right from primary schools thus imbibing its many advantages into the young minds, as well as enhanced training for staffs in work places,” she said.
The University of Jos professor, on his part, noted that despite the integration of IT into our daily lives, more has to be done. “The system must organise training workshops on use of ICT for teaching and research for the staff, e-teaching and learning halls and laboratories should be provided (including multimedia facilities), personal computers should be provided or made available to staff through some loan facilities and lecturers should be encouraged to prepare and present lectures in multimedia format.”
A Professor of Material Science and Energy from the OAU, and the Director General of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Prof. Willie Siyanbola, however lamented the negative aspect of technology on education whereby students access junk, or copy the works of other peoples, infringing on intellectual property in terms of copyright without proper referencing.
He added that some renounced researches are also guilty of this act and called for a redress. “IT no doubt has made it easier to access documented works stored in libraries in any part of the world, but people must be careful when accessing other peoples works.”
Other Issues
He also opined that the time spent by some students on the social media is not to be tolerated, and must be moderated through a regulatory intervention to avoid fatal problems on the future generation.
Tourism Expert, Uko also advocated a reduction in the cost of bandwidth. “The FG must do more especially in the area of providing adequate infrastructure that is affordable and safe as technology resources are still fairly expensive in Nigeria compared to the developed nations of the world and even some African countries.”
Similarly, the president of ISSAN called for the appropriate legal framework to ensure that there is no ambiguity as to what people can do and cannot do with technology.
“Currently, we do not have a cybercrime law in Nigeria. That is not good enough. This is particularly critical as all developed nations of the world have appropriate legislation in this regard and some smaller countries in Africa have done same. Our legislators need to help the country and pass the cybercrime bill as a matter of urgency.
In one of his presentations titled: “Harnessing the potential of Internet and Applications on Mobile Devices”, at a Mobile Web conference, President, Cyberskuul News and a former President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Titi Omo-Ettu, stated technology was necessary to the broad services that belong to governments such as building and maintaining rail roads, highways, central electricity, and local water supplies.
He noted each of these different roles, involve technology to improve the ease and efficiency of different services. “The mobile phone is a device for change, a tool for closing the digital divide, an ultimate closer of the gap between the rich and the poor and between the rural and the urban.
“Building the rapidly expanding mobile system to generate more business makes good sense, content creation is key and I am particularly concerned about how much of this can be locally targeted and locally produced. If Nigeria must benefit immensely from the apps market, there is need for improved infrastructure, capacity building among others,” he said.
The Social Media
The Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan, however noted given the rapid acceleration of technological development, criminal minded people had shown their ability to take up technological arms to harm the general populace, and called for vigilance on the part of online users.
He said: “As with any space, social media channels come with their own etiquettes and safety cautions. The first rule is that one should never assume that online persona is the complete picture. Even off-line, people reveal true colours when we get to know them better.”
“The social media will remain a communication channel, were lots of executives, senior professionals, business personnels, students and so on meet to communicate, and everyone must learn to apply caution.”
Special Assistant on Media to the former Minister of Communications Technology, Efem Nkanga, however noted that in a bid to ensure that Nigerians have access to affordable internet, the ministry was intervening to ensure that the numbers of base stations in the country increases from its 27,000 to 65,000 in 2018 to meet the national target of a five-fold increase in broadband penetration by 2018.
She added the ICTs today played a crucial role in national development, and the ex-minister was very much focused on helping Nigeria transform its economy via ICTs.
“With the ICT industry growing at an average of 30 per cent yearly for the last two years, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Nigerian economy, no doubt ICTs to a very large extent is sure to help Nigeria achieve its vision 20:2020 targets,” Nkanga said.
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