Volume 19, No. 3, October 2009
(NITDA) as its implementing body[8],[10].
According to its vision statement, the policy is aimedat making Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa anda key player in the Information society by using ICT asthe engine for sustainable development and globalcompetitiveness. The mission statement centres onusing ICT for education, creation of wealth, povertyeradication, job creation, and global competitiveness.Unfortunately, there are no specifics about diffusioninto the rural areas and was over-sighted by the policyformulators.
1.2 Challenges Facing ICT Diffusion and Adoptionin Nigeria
Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) deal with the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)in development programs in underdeveloped countries.Although some value-added ICT4D projects have beenmeticulously conceived and focused on some targetgroups, little has been realized in terms of achievements from these projects. The major challenges facing the adoption of ICT in Nigeriainclude:(a)
Absence of adequate communication network infrastructure(b)
Relatively high cost of ICT products that is notaffordable to the large low-income portion of Nigerians(c)
Relatively low level of support from the rank andfile of people in government(d)
Problems associated with technical andmanagement support for Internet connectivity(e)
Monopolistic tendencies among service providersand operators coupled with problems of interoperability(f)
Lack of quality control over importation of ICTtools and equipment into the country(g)
Lack of foreign investors’ interest in doing business as a result of lack of basic infrastructure[11] (h)
The challenges of sustainable wired and wirelessnetworks(i)
Cost of connectivity(j)
Security issues and fraud(k)
Political instability/policy inconsistencies andgovernment bureaucracies.(l)
Lack of effective coordination and other regulatoryissues(m)
High running and subscription costs(n)
Lack of good publicity and incentives to attract potential users(o)
Identification of information sources that meet theneeds of users(p)
Poor quality of service of the Internet andtelecommunication services(q)
Effective management of network traffic andinfrastructure
2. Related Literature
Several authors have discussed the level of Internetand ICT penetration in Nigeria as very low, resultingfrom high cost of bandwidth, exorbitant prices for computer acquisition, and unreliable power supply[1],[5],[10],[12]-[14]. A casual investigation of the
Nigerian ICT terrain reveals that wireless network willgrow faster than wired network. This fact is supported by the rapid increase in mobile telephone subscribersin recent years. Online banking and electroniccommerce are also enjoying increases in embracementwith the proliferation of ATM machines in notable andaccessible points in different metropolis. This hashowever not come without the attendant problems of irregular and inconsistent services to customers,network problem and the issue of cyber crime[7],[15]-
[17].Firm-level variables such as financial capacity
andtechnological absorptive capacity influenced theintensity
of the adoption of ICTs thereby suggestingthat globalisation
of the Nigerian economy alsoinfluenced the adoption of new
technologies. Closingthese gaps – locally, nationally and globally - requirescreative pro-people policies that focus on national priorities – on areas that will have the greatest positiveimpact on development. One major problems facingthe development ICT for national development inAfrica is the brain drain. Not finding the enablingenvironment has driven some of the best brains fromthe continent abroad in search of greener pastures. Theresult is a deficiency in the availability of engineersand scientists knowledgeable in r undertaking ICT-related project. There is also the challenge of the noninvolvement and imbalance of gender and other targetgroups in policy formulation [26]. Another major obstacle is the unavailability of a sound ICT-roadmapand strategies by policy makers resulting inuncoordinated and unsustainable ICT-developmentactivities[14],[18],[19].
2.1 Correlating ICT with Socio-EconomicDevelopment
One the benefits of the ICT revolution is theopportunity now open to Nigerian businesses to accessa wider global market through e-commerce. As e-commerce opens up the Nigerian market to foreignenterprises, the relatively affluent Nigerian consumer with access to the Internet is given much greater choice with regard to desired products and services.Contrary to the situation in advanced countries wheretransport and communications systems for delivery of goods and services are very established, this basicinfrastructure is practically non-existent in some partsof Nigeria. Where they are available, they aregenerally slow and expensive [25]. Thecommunications and information delivery capability of ICT products and related services serves all sectors of society. Other sectors such as education, health, social policy, commerce, government, banks, trading,
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