Development of a measure for technological capability in the information and communications technology industry in Nigeria

1.1 Introduction Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has proved to be a catalyst to fundamental changes in the world's economies and societies. It creates more avenues to earn income, allows access to useful information, enhances the world of work and makes the world a global village (Aderemi, 2006). The ICT industry spans broadcast, electronics and print media, computers, telecommunications and e-commerce activities. As put forward by Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Adelaja & Abiola (2007), ICT infrastructure is made up of all physical facilities and technologies engaged in delivering and disseminating information and communication services in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable television service, postal service, publishing, printing, computer networks, and a wide range of terminal equipment. The minimum composition of an ICT infrastructure that would bring about social and industrial development include: a functional telecommunications network with voice, data and video transmission to enable an information base that is adequately networked; local production of ICT equipment and materials; a pool of human resources with capacity in 2 telecommunications and other related aspects of the rapidly growing ICT industry; and software development and production of information technology (IT) applications (Oyelaran-oyeyinka, Adelaja & Abiola, 2007). In Nigeria today, telecommunication activities continues to play a lead role as a central component of the ICT sector. The industry is competitive with a mix of service providers in the private and public sectors in their respective domains. This is consequent upon the deregulation in the industry. The recognition of the pivotal role of Information Technology (IT) for development became eminent in Nigeria with the formulation and approval of the IT policy was a consultative process that brought together major IT stakeholders such as Computer Association of Nigeria (COAN) now known as Computer Society of Nigeria, National Information Technology Professional Associations (NITPAs) now known as Computer Professionals of Nigeria (CPN), Association of Licensed Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria (ALTCON) as well as the Nigerians in the Diaspora. The IT policy has very clear-cut policy goals on the development of the national information backbone. This was to engender seamless interconnectivity in ICT infrastructure development in Nigeria. The policy document stipulated that the government, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), shall establish and develop a National Information Infrastructure (NII) backbone as the gateway to the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) interconnecting it with State Information Infrastructure (SII) and the Local Information Infrastructure (LII). The policy also has the objective to promote technological capability in …

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