FIRST, when a global change sets in, the development equilibrium registers a crack along a dividing line! This crack is an early warning of the shape of things to come. It is a sign of the impending divide. The I.T development crack has started its long journey. This crack will undoubtedly create 'a digital divide.' Poor national telephone density can negatively accelerate the process of a digital divide for a nation like Nigeria.

In the same way, it will be recalled that the agricultural revolution was raptured by change. That is, the change brought about by the industrial revolution. The consequences of the early cracks of the industrial revolution are what we still feel today in the name of developed, developing and underdeveloped nations (the effects of the industrial development divide!).

Information and Communications Technology has started to induce a global change. This change will affect nations, businesses, family, individuals and the environment - in the social, economic, political and cultural senses of the word. It is already affecting and influencing the domains of agriculture, education, politics, employment, health, production processes, consumption, environment and lifestyle, banking and finance, recreation and other forms of life activities.

Indeed, I.T has announced (projected) the possibility of space travel by 2020 - please, book your ticket now. After all, philosophers earlier warned us that, the world is a market place! I.T is an embodiment of the biggest and most complex market known to man in the 21st Century.

The I.T age of reason therefore demands that Nigeria in particular (the single largest population of the black race) must act and re-act firmly and speedily, as we enter the dangerous curve of 21st Century digital development challenge.

CONCLUSION:

Development @ the Speed of Vision

Now, there is a very limited excuse for nations not to develop as fast as the speed of their vision can propel them. Nigeria must now begin to develop as fast as our dreams can carry us. We can and must develop @ the speed of our collective vision and thought-processes. Information and Communications Technology affords us the opportunity to do so.

National development @ the speed of vision, within the context of global competitiveness has now become an information issue. In clear terms, it is a knowledge-base issue - woven around information technology. We may have abundant natural resources and human capital, but other nations who have a better information knowledge (about our environment) and capability may become the main beneficiary of those resources - given the opportunity of 21st century globalization.

The core solution to the logical attainment of national development @ the speed of our perceived vision lies in the standardization of our data and information system - applying the required and effective information and communications tools, anchored on a solid I.T infrastructure foundation.

This is one sure way of leapfrogging technologically and earning the immense benefits presented by the digital revolution. Above all, it is the meaningful way to jumpstart and uplift the over- all productivity and standard of living of a nation. Not to do this will amount to driving our collective interests into the looser side of the emerging 'digital divide'. I dream that each Nigerian child of 10-12 years age bracket, will have access to a Broadband -based PC, Notebook and a Palmtop, a GSM, â-oethis is possible @ the speed of vision!

By now, we must all agree that there is a fundamental need to 'change the mindset of how we live, work and govern '. The heart of this change lies within a hand click on a digital mouse. To effect this change Nigeria must turn information technology into a national movement. The I.T movement can be effectively driven by a well-articulated national strategic plan for the implementation of the informatics policy - where software development is given the top most priority. An I.T blueprint is the first solution.

The challenge presented by global ICT development propels us towards a mandatory age of reasoning. It compels us to develop through creativity and sharpened skill. Presently, it challenges us to create and manage knowledge-based activities in order to enthrone an intelligent society.

Today, the client-server technology affords us the possibility to tame our information overload culture. The microprocessor revolution presents us with the means to standardize and distribute knowledgeable information. With this technology, the PC networks (LAN/WAN) and the networked server potentials, information integration and data combination are made easy - using effective point-to-point communication.

The age of reason allows any work station, at any branch of the network to have access to any information at any time. This way, communities can communicate and share knowledge with each other. Universities can build-up potential knowledge and share it with each other. Government can deliver and receive meaningful information from the public. Population data can be accessed and utilized for productive analysis. Electronic mails can be sent to and from the villages - now enhanced with wireless communication if the GMS palava is eliminated. In deed with ease, we can create information and knowledge for all! The resultant effect will create wealth beyond our collective imagination!

Strategy for Competitive I.T Development for Nigeria.

Implementation of any national computing initiative without a national I.T policy framework will be wasteful in terms of financial commitment and therefore an effort in futility. This is fundamentally so, because of the intensive structural relationship and dependency of one information technology domain with the other.

These information domains are inter-twined systems - obeying a dynamic networking principle in their functions. It is only a national informatics policy that is capable of exploring, creating and maximizing the benefit therein, for the purpose of enhancing productivity, fortifying development and sustainable growth - and above all, for functional competitiveness. I.T legislation belongs to this framework.

The time to undertake fundamental decision:The time for Nigeria to decide is NOW. The strategic issues which must be adopted and implemented in the shortest possible time are, but not limited to the following:

1. Focus I.T as a national movement: The President should make a fundamental statement to the nation, proclaiming informatics technology and software development as the mandatory engine and fuel for Nigeria's development in the next 10 years. This statement which ultimately represents the aspiration of the people of Nigeria will then be transformed into what should be acceptable to all stakeholders as the first I.T Bill for Nigeria.

2. Set-up a National Committee - incorporating an I.T Vision Group/Task Force for the establishment of a national blueprint on information technology for Nigeria - with knowledgeable Nigerians from cross professional discipline (both at home and abroad) as members. The main objective will focus on the design and implementation of LII, NII and GII, among others.

3. Government should set up a funding framework for undertaking a number of specialized I.T-related R&D study projects to understand core informatics problems and how to deliver functional I.T solutions with long-term benefit to the entire nation.

4. Establish and encourage a national software consortium of private sector I.T companies to undertake major and large-scale software- based I.T projects - primarily with domestic market guarantee. These products must have compulsory ISO 9000 and equivalent of SEI level-5 standards. In order to enhance and sustain the quality of these products, there is need to establish Software Product Certification Agency/Agencies to classify and grant certification. Developing Automated Civil Service Application Software (ACSAS) represents a matching action for market guarantee by government.

Imperative for achieving the strategy attribute of A (above) is the fundamental importance of consciously building and developing a logical capacities and capabilities for a "large Army" of I.T manpower. This sums up to the design of a functional policy for Technology Capacity Building (TCB) in the I.T industry. This will require that we produce an average of minimum 30,000 thoroughbred I.T Software Engineers, Mathematics and Statistics graduates as well as Microelectronics Engineers - annually. Without further argument, this, of course, calls for a total transformation of our educational system.

Mandate and encourage key industries such as banking and finance, petroleum, power and steel insurance, the health sector, mineral resources, mining, and manufacturing to work with local software development companies.

The Strategy under A and B (above) will act as a springboard to lunch an offshore software development program for exports - using high speed satellite and fibre optic links. Towards this end, Government will act as the main catalyst for the establishment of a Global Software Export Consortium of competent Nigerian corporate developers - to lead the competitiveness challenge to be encountered in marketing "Made in Nigeria" Software, globally.

Organizational Structure Strategy: For effectively implementing and sustaining the benefits of national informatics policy, a formidable organizational structure must be put in place. Relevant studies have demonstrated in concrete terms that in the very near future "there will no longer be distinct data and voice markets, but just one for combined DATA/VOICE/VIDEO"

Therefore, this convergence will impact grossly on broadcasting, communication and information administration. In line with these fearsome and speedy development trend, there is need for the establishment of a "MINISTRY OF INFORMATICS TECHNOLOGY" for Nigeria - not later than the first quarter of Year 2006.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the take-off of the strategy under the above, the following must be put in place:

i. A strategy for the establishment of a National I.T Commission should be implemented without further delay.

ii. A strategy for the establishment of a National I.T Board (NITB).

iii. A strategy for the establishment of Software Council of Nigeria (SCN).

iv. A strategy for the establishment of Microelectronics Council of Nigerian (MECN). This is necessary to fortify existing structures (e.g: CPN)

Establish a mandatory national program to train and re-train the entire civil service to be I.T literate. Each Government Ministry should establish an Information Technology Department within the next 90 days. This becomes absolutely necessary in the face of the speedy transformation of the machinery of governance globally. Each I.T Department so formed should have a "Chief Information Technology Officer". His/Her responsibility will be the design and implementation of functional information systems - as an integral part of future E-governance strategy.

Furthermore, with regards to the above, the National Youth Service Corps should the restructured and re-engineered as an Information Technology Training Centre - while still retaining the ethics of the NYSC objectives. In furtherance of this objective, special incentive program should be designed to attract the establishment of I.T companies in and around our university campuses nationwide.

Minimum of two (2) Software Development Parks and Centres (SDP/SDC) should be established in all the defined regions of the federation - within the next six months. Software development is the most economic way to join the global I.T race.

Local Assembly of Personal Computers must be encouraged by establishing Pilot Schemes in Regional locations. These Assembly Plants will be upgraded into Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Manufacturing Plants through the formation of business consortia. To earn the confidence of Nigerian and foreign investors, these outfits should be quoted in the stock exchange.

Banks, financial houses and Insurance firms should be encouraged by government to invest in the Information and Communications Technology Industry. In order to channel at least 5% of potential resources from those industrial sectors into I.T, special investment incentive program must be put in place. Establishment of "ALL NIGERIAN I.T FORUM" as a platform to enable all informatics practitioners, students at home and abroad to effectively contribute. This has become fundamentally essential, because knowledge has no respect for national boundaries. Nigeria needs all the important contributions on how to effectively attack global I.T competitiveness to sustain the development of her people. We can draw these expertises from Nigerian I.T practitioners, stakeholders, users and prospective investors from all over the world. This is one of Nigeria's golden opportunities and advantage of the information age.

Initiate a special I.T literacy program for the Nigerian women. Towards this end, special incentives as income tax holiday should be given to I.T Companies who employ at least 30% of women as its workforce. The LII, NII and GII design and the R &D strategy should critically focus on the INTERNET - its operation, use and management.