Technology that can diversify Nigerians economy

Indeed, there are many ICT technologies that could be adopted by Nigeria to diversify its economy. Each of them has its own consequences both on the short-run and on the long –run. And they require different types of resources to achieve the required objective.

Due to the low GDP, weak educational system and low capital investment in OCT, there is the need to develop a cost effective strategy to achieve our objective to diversify the economy.

The main areas of opportunity are is software and content management system.  Since, most of the public and private business activities and operation are not computerized.

The main software strategy that will assist Nigeria in diversifying its economy at much reduced cost, reduce poverty and unemployment, build capacity, create wealth and increase the GDP is the Open Source Software.

Open source Software (OSS)

Open-source software (OSS) is computer software with its source code made available with a license in which the copyright holder provides the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. There are many OSS ranging from operating systems, development tools and programming languages, office automation, databases and application software in nearly all areas of human endeavor.

There are many advantages that Nigeria can benefit from OSS. The major cause of the slow development of our ICT is the cost of hardware, software, personnel and external services.  We can only manage cost of hardware acquisition through effective foreign exchange management because all of them are imported. We can reduce the cost of software acquisition by embracing OSS. The gains from adopting OSS can be used to build local capacity in order to reduce personnel and other services cost.

Annually the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) pays millions of dollars to Microsoft and licensing fees to Microsoft and SAP for Windows Operating System, MS Office and SAP ERP. Indeed, if we adopt an open source operating system like Linuxandan OSS Open Office as a policy, we will be making a lot of saving. When this is adopted across FGN, State and local governments there will be a lot of saving and penetration. Also, Nigeria either under NITDA, NCC, CPN, ISPON, etc can empower local software developer to develop some ERP adapted to our local need, activities and operations. It is believe that with appropriate empowerment, some Nigerian companies and software developer can reproduce SAP under Reverse Engineering Principles while  start with an OSS ERP. This will help the government and Nigerian people to get the benefits of OSS which is an effective strategy for providing affordable software that are secured, with high quality, transparent, flexible and with no vendor “lock in”.

If the OSS initiative is adopted by the government, there will easy penetration of OSS into the Nigerian market with all its development and capacity building advantages If this OSS Initiative is properly coordinated by involving all stakeholders in the short-run and as a long term project, Nigeria will start exporting some of the adopted OSS to other countries.

Technology enabled learning

Most public and private schools and institutions below the tertiary level are not computerized because of high cost of ICT acquisition. It is necessary to state that most of them can computerize their operations and activities with some OSS with minimal amendments and adaptation.

This will form the basis for Technology enabled and/or enhanced learning, which can be in the form of e-learning, mobile learning, online and blended learning and e-textbooks. Each of these trends include the essential components of the learner’s  vision of socially-based, un-tethered and digitally rich learning, that will enable, engage and empower learners/students.

• Enabling learners/students to reach their potential through increased access to educational resources and experts that extend learning beyond the capacities or limitations of their school or community.

• Engaging students in rich, compelling learning experiences that develop deeper knowledge and skill development especially the problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking skills so highly desired for our world today.

• Empowering students to take responsibility for their own educational destinies and to explore knowledge with an unfettered curiosity, thus creating a new generation of lifelong learners.

Also, OSS e-learning applications can be used to reduce cost and enhance learning.

Content Management system (CMS)

Nigeria is a big nation with a large population, tribes, cultures, games, history and tradition, business and landmass. As at today, the Nigeria content in the internet is below 5%. One of the reasons for the slow pace of generating/populating the internet with our content is because most website designers are coding the websites. With some OSS Content Management Systems like WordPress, Joomla, Blender, Plone and so on, it is possible to develop website without requiring programming skills.

An extension of the OSS Initiative discussed in section 5.1 should also apply to website content management system. Any effective strategy designed to populate the internet with Nigeria contents using CMS will create a lot of employment and create wealth. It will enhance and develop e-business and e-commerce.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to the use of computing resources, those being hardware and/or software) that reside on a remote machine and are delivered to the end user as a service over a network, with the most prevalent example being the internet. By definition, a user entrusts his data to a remote service, on which has limited to no influence.

There are mainly four models of cloud computing:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): This is the most basic cloud-service model, which provides the user with virtual infrastructure, for example servers and data storage space.

• Platform as a Service (PaaS): In this model, cloud providers deliver to the user development environment services where the user can develop and run in-house built applications. The services might include an operating system, a programming language execution environment, databases and web servers

• Software as a Service (SaaS): In this model, the cloud provides the user with access to already developer applications that are running in the cloud. The access is achieved by cloud clients and the cloud users do not manage the infrastructure where the application resides, eliminating with this the way the need to install and run the application on the cloud user’s own computers.

• Network as a Service (Naas): The least common model, where the user is provided with network connectivity services, such as VPN and bandwidth on demand.

In an environment like Nigeria where cost of hardware and software acquisition, skilled ICT personnel and other ICT services is very high, Cloud Computing is an option for managing the cost, for users, business and even government.  It eliminates the burden support, maintenance, development environment and application from the users.  So that businesses are able to focus on their core business by outsourcing all the hassle of IT infrastructure.

If Cloud Computing is implemented effectively, it can revolutionalize ICT literacy in both public and private primary and secondary schools.  It will provide a good platform for entrepreneurs who may not have enough capital to invest in ICT and employ ICT qualified manpower. It will stimulate e-commerce and e-business.

Thin client computing

A thin client network is a server based network where the majority, if not all, of the processing is done by the server rather than by the individual client machine(s). Software applications and programs are held and run on the server, and displayed on the client machine.

This is also a technology that can reduce the cost of ICT. The major weakness of Cloud Computing is that it depends on the internet. In areas where internet connectivity is an issue, Thin Client Computing could be used to reduce cost.  This will also be good model for schools and small businesses to meet their ICT need at reduce cost.

Conclusion.

All the above considered, implementation of these technologies and strategies can diversify Nigeria’s economy and solve our basic socio-economic challenges. However, it requires careful planning, providing the right environment, surmounting some challenges and sincere leadership.

Thank you very much.

Augustus ZEKARYAH

Telephone: +234-803-951-0725,

E-mail: augustus@firstplus.com.ng

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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 (https://firstplus-ibs.com.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 https://firstplus-ibs.com.ng that may be of interest are.

1. The state of ICT
2. ICT Opportunities in Nigeria
3. ICT that can solve Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges
4. How ICT development can solve Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges

As you read them drop a comment because your feedback is very important to us. It will help us to improve. Regards…