Nigeria Information Policy: A Review

ICT Policy document

Social Science Research Network, 2014

The Nigerian National IT policy (USE IT) was formulated in March 2001 with sixteen sectoral application areas and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was established as the implementation agency. Out of these sixteen sectoral applications, this study sought to determine the extent of implementation of the policy in six of the sectors-health, agriculture, urban and rural development, arts, culture and tourism, national security and law enforcement as well as research and development. Ministries and agencies relevant to each sector were studied and the extent of implementation of the IT policy was evaluated. The study also assessed the newly drafted national ICT Policy to determine whether areas in the current national IT policy that are yet to be satisfactorily implemented has been taken care of and then make recommendations. Fifteen Heads of departments across selected sectors were interviewed face-to-face, one online interview via e-mail as well as fifty-nine copies of questionnaire administered. Interview responses were transcribed verbatim based on extent of implementation of each of the objectives of the IT policy that each sector seeks to achieve. Questionnaires were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and inferences were drawn by rating responses on a scale of 1-5 (excellent to not satisfactory respectively). The study adjudged that the extent of implementation of the national IT policy in health, agriculture, Nigeria Police Force as well as in the research and development sector was very satisfactory. Implementation in urban and rural development and in the Nigeria Immigration Service was seen as average; while it was adjudged unsatisfactory in Arts, Culture and Tourism sector. A review of the newly drafted national ICT policy revealed that some of the identified gaps in the current national IT policy had been incorporated to an extent while recommendations were made for the other areas. The study recommended among others, that the arts, culture and tourism sector should not be neglected as it is critical to transforming the country's economy if properly managed by harnessing IT capabilities in its transformation. The Nigerian national ICT policy (draft) should put appropriate measures in place to create an enabling environment that will enhance effective and coordinated ICT development across all sectors, especially in the arts, culture and tourism sector.

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 2017

The coverage of ICT goes beyond such activities as programming, networking and analyzing. It enables the usage of computers and related tools to enhance … the quality of life. 1 *

Kuwait Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 2014

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of government and private sectors in information society. Using relevant literatures; the paper examines information society, World Summit on Information Society, features or characteristics of information society, implementation of World Summit on information Society in Nigeria, the role of Government and private sector. The role of government in information society among others include; Creation, Generation, Production, Dissemination of information, Infrastructure Development, Creation of an enabling environment, regulation of information, developing human capacity etc. Based on the findings, the paper recommends the followings among others urgent need for the country to have a single comprehensive ICT policy, development of infrastructure, capacity building etc

2024

This article explores the transformative role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in national development, focusing on public administration and policy implications for Nigeria. Drawing comparisons with nations such as the United States, Estonia, and Sweden, the study demonstrates how ICT has been integrated into governance, economic development, defense, and service delivery in these countries, leading to significant advancements in productivity, revenue generation, and job creation. In contrast, Nigeria's ICT potential remains underutilized due to infrastructure deficiencies, policy gaps, and failure to fully harness local expertise, particularly that of ICT professionals like Chief Adewale Kolawole Kalejaiye. This article argues for robust ICT policy reforms, better integration into public administration, and strategic investments that align with global trends. Recommendations for improving ICT's role in governance, defense, and economic development in Nigeria are also provided.

Nigeria. Being an exploratory discourse, the paper relied on secondary data while the technological determinism theory was applied. ICTs adoption is an indicator that shows access and utilization of ICTs in a country or location with consideration to the number of people in that country. Adoption rate (internet) in Nigeria was found to be below 50% based on information from the Federal Ministry of Technology and the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics. Also, mobile subscription was found to be as high as 98%. In the area of application, available literature shows ICTs can be applied in different areas such as education, agriculture, economics, health ,journalism etc. The application of ICTs in economics and journalism was extensively discussed to reflect to overall objective of this study. Based on existing literature, the paper recommends among others the need for government to formulate policies that can aid Nigerians harness the full benefits of ICTs.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are set targets for reducing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women by 2015. The achievement of these goals in Nigeria may not be feasible predominantly due to poor resource utilization, pervasive corruption and heavy external debt burden. We suggest the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the achievement of MDGs in Nigeria since ICT has become a veritable tool for proper governance and empowerment of the people.

Research Project, Faculty of Law, University of Uyo, Uyo, 2018

The art of communication has indeed passed through a long stretch of scientific sophistication. Prior to today, information was basically viva voce and inter presenters. Today, information technology has evolved in such a way that communication and technological relations has metamorphosed such that information can be disseminated across the vast expanse of the ocean without any personal and physical link between the communicators. This has necessitated the law and various institutions to evolve in line with the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Despite a late start, available statistics indicate that Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is gaining grounds in Nigeria. The purpose of this long essay is to examine the available legal and institutional framework for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) specifically in Nigeria. That is to say, a detailed analysis is presented, of legislations promulgated by the National Assembly and of regulatory institutions in furtherance of the legal regime of ICT in Nigeria. In pursuance of this, the work is discussed in five chapters. Chapter one contains a general introduction of the work and, raises questions and considers related literature review among others; chapter two provides an overview of the laws regulating ICT in Nigeria; chapter three analyses the existing institutions which regulate the operation of ICT in Nigeria; chapter four presents a detailed appraisal of these laws and institutions especially in the light of trending issues and concerns in the ICT sphere; and chapter five presents the proposition that follows as a consequence of the research done throughout the work and thereafter proposes some regulatory benchmarks to reposition the ICT sector to enhance the sustainable regulation of ICT in Nigeria.

Oman Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 2013

Participating in the emerging information society is contingent upon availability of adequate information infrastructure therefore; developing countries like Nigeria are making efforts towards building their national information infrastructure with the aim of enhancing their global participation and competitiveness. This paper assesses Nigeria's information infrastructure policies and how they are being implemented. The paper further discusses the effect of ethical issues like digital divide, privacy infringement and cybercrime on adoption of electronic governance in the country and made recommendations for policy implementation.

2016

Education remains the bedrock of development in any nation. According to Nelson Mandela, education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. It is however pertinent to know that education is limited to time and space. As such, the world is changing and the environment is equally changing with it every day through education. Many developed countries have attained to the level of development through investing in education and encouraging e-learning in schools. E-path to improving legal education is an act of Information Communication Technology (ICT), which can be used to enhance learning in law schools and individually. In Nigeria, e-learning in law faculties is still under-utilized, many are not even aware of what is called e-learning when other developed nations are well advanced in education through ICT. This could be a pitfall towards developing legal education in Nigeria. Even though mobile phone(s) and computer are means of sharing and accessing information, and a good number of Nigerians have it, yet, many do not use it for the right purpose. The paper will then explore on the right use and benefits of improving the legal education standard in Nigeria through ICT devices, discuss the imminent barriers to the optimal use of ICT and conclude with practical steps that can be taken to overcome the barriers in enhancing legal education standard in the country. The author adopts a non-empirical research methodology, by focusing on literature reviews and extensive research on how to enhance legal education through ICT in Nigeria.