Integrating Nigerias IT Mission with the Global Knowledge Economy: NITPAs Operational Activity Types

1
Integrating Nigerias IT Mission with the Global
Knowledge Economy NITPAs Operational Activity
Types Initiatives

• A presentation by
• NITPAs Task Forces

2
Fundamental Principles

• Nigerias effective participation in current
  globalization trends must be based on an
  innovative application of ICTs to meet our local
  priorities and context
• Not just on the existence of Internet
  connections, VSAT technologies and
  state-of-the-art ICTs alone
  
• Putting infrastructure in place is just the
  beginning and, though expensive, perhaps the
  easiest part.
  
• Now we must turn our attention to providing
  incentives and capabilities to use information
  effectively
  

3
Incentives and Capabilities?

• Incentives for the provision of knowledge
  required to produce and exploit innovations
  
• Capabilities of individuals and organizations to
  conceive of and shape the implementation of ICT
  innovations
  
• Favors a 'people-led' view of development and
  sees people themselves as critical agents of
  development, solving their own problems and
  identifying their own concerns through local
  organizations and networks. 

4
NITPAs TASK FORCES

• 5 Task Forces -
• Applications
• Consulting Management
• Development
• Education Research
• Telecommunications Networks

5
Operational Activity Types

• 4 Operational activity types
• Advocacy and Interest Mobilization
• (GOAL To influence policy, increase awareness of
  policy makers and encourage professional
  networking)
  
• Lead TF Telco Networks and Consulting Mgmt
• Knowledge Building Dissemination
• (GOAL To provide the base for technical know-how
  and stimulate dissemination of new knowledge)
  
• Lead TF Education Research

6
Operational Activity Types (Contd.)

• Competence and Capability Building
• (GOAL To contribute to the development of ICT
  infrastructure and ICT skills)
  
• Lead TF Development
• Provision of Resources and Solutions
• (GOAL To engage in activities designed to
  produce specific innovative outcomes in different
  societal sectors)
  
• Lead TF Applications

7
Advocacy and Interest Mobilization(GOAL To
influence policy, increase awareness of policy
makers and encourage professional
networking)Lead TF Telco Networks and
Consulting Mgmt

• Projects/initiatives
• Cyber Crime Bill
• Nigerian IT indigenization Policy
• Removal of taxation on donated computers
• Internet domain registration (.ng issue)
• National IT commission
• To serve as an institutional mechanism to harness
  all existing resources and capabilities within
  and outside Nigeria
  
• To coordinate Nigerias L/T IT plans (Technology
  Foresight)

8
Technology Foresight

• Identify critical (current and emerging)
  technologies likely to yield the greatest
  economic and social benefits
  
• A process involve key participants from different
  stakeholder groups (industry, universities,
  government, NGOs, consumer groups) to define the
  kind of Nigeria we would like to see in the
  future
• Benefits
• Product forecasts and policies based on them
• Process Communication, Concentration on the
  longer term, Coordination, Consensus, Commitment

9
Knowledge Building Dissemination(GOAL To
provide the base for technical know-how and
stimulate dissemination of new knowledge)Lead
TF Education Research

• Projects/initiatives
• IT Curricula Review
• Changes in ICTs and their applications
• New knowledge and skills required in global
  economy
  
• Skills gap and shortage
• Compare portfolio of activities with academic
  preparation
  
• Elicit expectations of stakeholders
• NOUN (Distance Learning Projects)
• NITPA members to act as facilitators/instructors
• IT Literacy and Proficiency Certification
  Programs
  
• IT drivers license in basic office productivity
  tools

10
Knowledge Building Dissemination

• Summer Exchange/Training Programs
• CISCO Oracle Microsoft Certifications
  MOUS/MCSE Systems Analysis
  
• Organize joint conferences to disseminate and
  discuss important IT-related issues.
  
• Panel discussions (GITMA CIITA) to promote IS
  education in Nigeria
  
• IFIP 9.4 international conference in 2004
• Joint research/publications
• Computers in Schools

11
Competence and Capability Building(GOAL To
contribute to the development of IT
infrastructure and ICT skills)Lead TF
Development

• Projects/initiatives
• E-business infrastructure
• Centers of excellence in hard/software
  development
  
• IS Security
• Build databases, information repositories of
  Nigerian/Nigerian-owned businesses,
  professionals
  
• Nigerian Skillsbank
• Nigerian IT portal
• Establishment of National IT Corps (NITCorp)
• Partners Zenox, NCC,

12
Provision of Resources and Solutions(GOAL To
engage in activities designed to produce specific
innovative outcomes in different societal
sectors)Lead TF Applications

• Projects/initiatives
• Application of IT to provide solutions in
  specific sectors
  
• Nigeria Health Workers Training Initiative
• Partners HUTSATC
• AIDS Containment Program