The Internet Society
We Have been in a cooler as to the changes that are taking place all around us today.
Millions and millions of transactions are taking place within the global space unhindered by time and space which used to be a stumbling block to mankind.
Today, things have changed and we now have one global community driven by knowledge, products and services.
Amongst these three, knowledge is the king and the reigning stuff today. There is the place of hard products and services. No one will discountenance there place anytime . But knowledge has become the main driving force in today’s business and commerce and as it has always been the case, Africa is losing out of this space ,and nothing seems to be done in terms of policy, program or a clear directed goal either at governmental level or at non governmental organizations to get this going.
The internet has become the main work place, the greatest university, the biggest market place, and the biggest financial institution globally.
The main driving force of all these internet activity still centered on the common e-mail.
It is like you either use the e-mail today or you freek out. You either know how to use the email or you are living in the cave or simply put, "you are a cave man".
While these have become a forgotten issue in the western world, Asia and even the Middle East, Africa is still very much in the dark as per the use of internet Vis a Vis the e-mail as a major instrument of improved productivity and global commerce.
Some statistics are frightening: For example Nigeria ,Africa’s most populous Nation and baring any other argument or figures unknown to me the second largest economy in Africa, is way behind in internet usage averaging around 8% of her population. With a GDP of about 290 billion dollars and a vibrant workforce, it appears that policy markers have not realize what the internet can do to its commerce vis-a -vis integrating it to the entire global commerce, and the benefits that can accrue to this space as a result of this, as it relates to the volume of economic activities and wealth creation.
Think about this figures
Nigerian economy is still agrarian based; with agriculture employing about 60% of the work force, agriculture contributing only about 18% of the GDP .
Oil employs less than 5% of the work force yet contributes over 40% of the GDP
Services (inclusive of telecommunication 8%) 31%
GDP (PPP) $2,300
Growth rate projected for 2009 5.3% of GDP.
Now this is far enough although the discouraging factor is that the country is still being ravaged by poverty with over 70% of the population below the poverty line.
What then can be done ?
Approximately Nigeria pushes out about 300,000 graduates annually from higher colleges and universities . How can these work force be empowered to participate fully in these knowledge based global economy? This is the Challenge for policy makers and NGOs to tackle and I am attempting to proffer some solutions and suggestions here.
1. Build on Infrastructure
There is the need to build back bone infrastructures that will support internet operations and activities, ranging from internet infrastructures to support our universities and poly’s, infrastructures to support research institutions, and then industries, banks and financial institutions. Thanks to the satellite endeavor, though this is not the best way to go in these age of fiber optics technology and gigabit Ethernet platforms. The satellite technology is more in the surveillance arena than in providing communication backbone. But none the less it does help in creating an e-compliant and aware society.
Once the infrastructure is in place ,internet connection will become affordable in Nigeria giving the fact that device cost is crashing down by the day from Mobile devices, smart Phones, blackberry, 3G modems etc .
We may well be thinking of another boom in the ICT space but this time around we should be thinking of a boom beyond the traditional voice communication, good as it might have been, to something more sustainable and empowering.
2. Encourage e-commerce
Efforts should be accelerated to make Nigeria less cash driven than the present cash society that we are. This is good when an effective framework is designed that guarantees fraud free transaction within the e-space and that also provides effective mechanisms to redress infractions in the system.
3. Training of University Lecturers
Our university lecturers need be e-compliant to the extent of at least sending and receiving e-mail to and from their students. These reduces the burden of space on them and thereby enhancing their productivity. This is presently an exception rather than the practice really.
Once the lecturers are internet compliant then we are in for a real revolution. Remember what the CBN Governor Professor Soludo once said that "Nigerian graduates are not employable" effectively referring to there internet non compliant and non compliant to modern tools of work which should have been learned in the university walls by the way, or even from the secondary schools.
What do we stand to gain?
We will be integrated into the global economy , where we can easily buy, sell; both products and services.
It may well be the real ingredient to reduce this massive unemployment figure which stands at over 40% official figure and growing at the rate of 5% annually. This monstrous gangrene can be dealt with once we get our ass together in this internet boom.
Think of jobs that will be created through outsourcing, expert consultants, export of expertise etc . This space is being fully exploited by India and Pakistan at the moment and Nigeria can take a cue.
The gains are just endless.
It also include expanding the market place for our rural agriculturist thereby lifting them from the chains of poverty. It can be done in so many ways and it is very possible as it is being done presently in Asia.
What about the exposure this will give our local artisans and the exposure to our abundant talents that is wasting away right now. This might well be the needed tonic to deal with this.
I will like to devote more space in my next blog and I do encourage contributions and responses here on our facebook group
Millions and millions of transactions are taking place within the global space unhindered by time and space which used to be a stumbling block to mankind.
Today, things have changed and we now have one global community driven by knowledge, products and services.
Amongst these three, knowledge is the king and the reigning stuff today. There is the place of hard products and services. No one will discountenance there place anytime . But knowledge has become the main driving force in today’s business and commerce and as it has always been the case, Africa is losing out of this space ,and nothing seems to be done in terms of policy, program or a clear directed goal either at governmental level or at non governmental organizations to get this going.
The internet has become the main work place, the greatest university, the biggest market place, and the biggest financial institution globally.
The main driving force of all these internet activity still centered on the common e-mail.
It is like you either use the e-mail today or you freek out. You either know how to use the email or you are living in the cave or simply put, "you are a cave man".
While these have become a forgotten issue in the western world, Asia and even the Middle East, Africa is still very much in the dark as per the use of internet Vis a Vis the e-mail as a major instrument of improved productivity and global commerce.
Some statistics are frightening: For example Nigeria ,Africa’s most populous Nation and baring any other argument or figures unknown to me the second largest economy in Africa, is way behind in internet usage averaging around 8% of her population. With a GDP of about 290 billion dollars and a vibrant workforce, it appears that policy markers have not realize what the internet can do to its commerce vis-a -vis integrating it to the entire global commerce, and the benefits that can accrue to this space as a result of this, as it relates to the volume of economic activities and wealth creation.
Think about this figures
Nigerian economy is still agrarian based; with agriculture employing about 60% of the work force, agriculture contributing only about 18% of the GDP .
Oil employs less than 5% of the work force yet contributes over 40% of the GDP
Services (inclusive of telecommunication 8%) 31%
GDP (PPP) $2,300
Growth rate projected for 2009 5.3% of GDP.
Now this is far enough although the discouraging factor is that the country is still being ravaged by poverty with over 70% of the population below the poverty line.
What then can be done ?
Approximately Nigeria pushes out about 300,000 graduates annually from higher colleges and universities . How can these work force be empowered to participate fully in these knowledge based global economy? This is the Challenge for policy makers and NGOs to tackle and I am attempting to proffer some solutions and suggestions here.
1. Build on Infrastructure
There is the need to build back bone infrastructures that will support internet operations and activities, ranging from internet infrastructures to support our universities and poly’s, infrastructures to support research institutions, and then industries, banks and financial institutions. Thanks to the satellite endeavor, though this is not the best way to go in these age of fiber optics technology and gigabit Ethernet platforms. The satellite technology is more in the surveillance arena than in providing communication backbone. But none the less it does help in creating an e-compliant and aware society.
Once the infrastructure is in place ,internet connection will become affordable in Nigeria giving the fact that device cost is crashing down by the day from Mobile devices, smart Phones, blackberry, 3G modems etc .
We may well be thinking of another boom in the ICT space but this time around we should be thinking of a boom beyond the traditional voice communication, good as it might have been, to something more sustainable and empowering.
2. Encourage e-commerce
Efforts should be accelerated to make Nigeria less cash driven than the present cash society that we are. This is good when an effective framework is designed that guarantees fraud free transaction within the e-space and that also provides effective mechanisms to redress infractions in the system.
3. Training of University Lecturers
Our university lecturers need be e-compliant to the extent of at least sending and receiving e-mail to and from their students. These reduces the burden of space on them and thereby enhancing their productivity. This is presently an exception rather than the practice really.
Once the lecturers are internet compliant then we are in for a real revolution. Remember what the CBN Governor Professor Soludo once said that "Nigerian graduates are not employable" effectively referring to there internet non compliant and non compliant to modern tools of work which should have been learned in the university walls by the way, or even from the secondary schools.
What do we stand to gain?
We will be integrated into the global economy , where we can easily buy, sell; both products and services.
It may well be the real ingredient to reduce this massive unemployment figure which stands at over 40% official figure and growing at the rate of 5% annually. This monstrous gangrene can be dealt with once we get our ass together in this internet boom.
Think of jobs that will be created through outsourcing, expert consultants, export of expertise etc . This space is being fully exploited by India and Pakistan at the moment and Nigeria can take a cue.
The gains are just endless.
It also include expanding the market place for our rural agriculturist thereby lifting them from the chains of poverty. It can be done in so many ways and it is very possible as it is being done presently in Asia.
What about the exposure this will give our local artisans and the exposure to our abundant talents that is wasting away right now. This might well be the needed tonic to deal with this.
I will like to devote more space in my next blog and I do encourage contributions and responses here on our facebook group
Well this links are quite interesting showing the earth rise photos from NASA, one of my favourite pics. http://www.abc.net.au/science/moon/earthrise.htm
As always, My Name is Mr. Henry
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