ICT Opportunities in Nigeria

This blog examines the characteristics of IT usage in Nigeria in order to identify the ICT opportunities in Nigeria. The characteristics of ICT usage in Nigeria and challenges can be summarized as follows:

• Hardware importation is 100%, with many companies and individual providing installation, repair and maintenance services
• Inadequate infrastructure: mainly electricity and telecommunication (bandwidth). I do not think that power electricity is a challenge to ICT because many Nigerians are getting to using generators.
• Inadequate hardware mainly due to low GDP and general poverty.
• Low skilled manpower and capacity building,
• Low ICT usage in government institutions mainly at the state and local government’s levels.
• On the software side, there is some local developed software but many of them cannot compete at the international market.
• Local application software utilization is low due to low GDP and little local software that can meet the need of the people.
• Although many private business use Computers for word processing and so on, but there are still many business that are un-computerized. Indeed over 80% of private businesses are not computerized.
• The level e-commerce is extremely low. Although, bank are utilizing the e-payment/banking applications very well.
• On the website development area, there are many Nigerians that are development websites, but Nigeria local content in the internet is extremely low.
• Educationally, many institutions are involved in training but many graduate/trainees are acquiring without required skills to back it up.

A careful look at these challenges are enormous opportunities in Nigeria considering the huge population of 120 million (which is effective demand), spread across many cultures and an extensive landmass and the massive wealth from oil and other natural resources. However, due to the low GDP, weak educational system and a growing telecommunication system there is the need to develop an ICT strategy that is cost effective that both the government and the people can participate quickly.

Thank you very much.

Augustus ZEKARYAH

Telephone: +234-803-951-0725,

E-mail: augustus@firstplus.ng

About the author

Augustus is a management, banking and business computing professional with over 20 years of documented success in the field. Augustus is recognized for the application of software to solving business problems, Software Project Management, Enterprise Architecture Strategy, and Delivery of learning solutions with focus on adaptability, Development and execution of business plans, General management and administration, Operations management and  Best practice development. Augustus founded and manages FirstPlus Integrated Business Solutions (http://firstplus.ng) as a Software and Business Consulting outfit that specializes in Software development and integration, E-Learning development, Business and Marketing Planning, Consulting and training. Augustus brings to his work a high level of energy, passion, commitment and humour. He is married with children.

Other articles published by the author in this series at http://firstplus.ng that may be of interest are.

1. The state of ICT
2. Technologies that can diversify Nigerian’s economy
3. ICT that can solve Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges
4. How ICT development can solve Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges

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