Digital Inclusion as Factor for Economic Development

Emma Okonji examines the issues raised at the 27th national conference of the Nigeria Computer Society , which focused on the opportunities and strategies of digital inclusion in driving economic development across the country

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the umbrella body for all computer professionals in the country, understands clearly the importance of digital inclusion in enhancing socio-economic and political development across the country, hence the focus of this year’s annual conference, which held in Ibadan, was on digital inclusion.
Experts at the conference stressed the need for Nigeria to imbibe the culture of adopting emerging technologies that would promote digital inclusion. According to them, this will help bring the majority of Nigerians on board and provide them with access to digital tools and platforms that will make them digitally inclusive in today’s digital era, where technology is driving innovations.

ICT Policy for Digital Inclusion

In order to achieve digital inclusion and to provide the opportunities for Nigerians to innovate, the President, NCS, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, argued that there was need for the federal government to formulate a new national information and communications technology (ICT) policy for the country that would incorporate digital inclusion as a pivotal factor for driving Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.

He advised government that the new policy should cover ICT infrastructure, broadband internet, fibre optic communication, local content prioritisation and regulatory framework.

“It is my belief that building a digitally connected, prosperous Nigerian society, requires taking advantage of the opportunities of digital inclusion, overcoming its challenges and strategising for the future,” Aderounmu said.
He listed three key areas of action that could help digital inclusion become a reality in Nigeria to include access, affordability and application.

Access, he said is about building high speed internet access and make it available to all members of the society, such that people who cannot afford digital technologies, can do so for free in public places. He said affordability would drive access to internet and digital devices, while application implies that digital technologies and services are usable by people with varying levels of digital skills and abilities, including people with disabilities.

“As Nigeria lags behind the rest of the world in digital inclusion, it is our professional challenge as NCS to identify knowledge gaps, proffer solutions and instigate collaborative efforts to quicken the pace of digital inclusion forward for our country Nigeria,” Aderounmu added.

Bridging the digital divide

In his presentation, the Director General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Aziz Abubarkar stressed the need to bridge the existing digital divide in the country, for an all inclusive digital initiative.
He advised that government must implement digital inclusion strategies that are based on principles of equal opportunity, participation and integration.

Speaking on the benefits of digital inclusion, Abubarkar said it would promote social integration, civic engagement and participation, as well as promote self sufficiency. He said Nigeria must care about digital inclusion, and develop her human capacity around it.

Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Idowu, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olayinka Adeyemo, said there was need to widen the digital inclusion initiative in the country to accommodate more people.

He called for innovative changes that would drive digital inclusion in the country, and stressed the need to support the development of indigenous apps that would address societal needs.
NCS Conferences Committee Chairman, Mr. Jide Awe in his address said digital inclusion remained the cornerstone for successful digital development.
“As technology changes the way we learn, live and work, NCS is exploring ways in which Information Technology (IT) can be used to create a future beyond oil in the country.
“The digital revolution is here to stay and its potential for creating jobs and driving development is huge but within the country, technology gaps are still wide,” Awe said.

Digital inclusion for governance
On his part, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, noted that the adoption of digital technology would further enhance digital inclusion, economic inclusion and financial inclusion that would enhance good governance and policy formulation in Nigeria.

The governor therefore called on private sector organisations and government agencies to fast-track the process of adopting the right emerging technologies that will boost digital inclusion across the country.

Ajimobi stressed the need for governments at all levels to adopt digital technology, which he said would enhance good governance and policy formulation that would create jobs for Nigerians. He said the ability of government to use key technology to create enabling business environment, would offer huge opportunities for the citizens.

“The adoption of digital technology has helped the state to build a foundation of peace and security, and to enhance economic growth,” the governor said.

The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Ms. Funke Opeke, in her presentation, supported the governor in the area of digital inclusion, policy formulation and implementation, but however stressed the need for digital infrastructure, if Nigeria must achieve digital inclusion. According to her, without digital infrastructure, it would be difficult for Nigeria to achieve digital inclusion.

She said the digital infrastructure level in the country was still low and must be increased to enable Nigerians have access to digital connectivity.

“While developed countries are beginning to pull down their 2G and 3G technology networks and are investing in 4G technology, Nigeria is still investing in 2G and 3G technologies in providing services to customers. The private sector and the government must therefore up their games in line with the current trends in technology innovation and digital inclusion,” Opeke said.

Citing Korea and other developed countries of the world that have 98 per cent internet connectivity in public places, with well distributed digital infrastructure, Opeke said Nigerian government and the private sector must invest in digital infrastructure that would give Nigerian citizens access to digital connectivity that will boost innovation.

Opeke said government must review its policy on broadband infrastructure and redesign it in such a way that broadband rollout would be easy enough to provide ubiquitous broadband access to every Nigerian.
Speaking on the role of telecommunications operators in driving digital infrastructure, she said the operators were already involved in shared infrastructure in order to deliver digital access to the underserved and unserved communities of the country.

Achieving digital inclusion

Prof. Patience Akpan-Obong of the Faculty of Leadership and Interdisciplinary Science from Arizona State University in the United States (US), in her presentation, also spoke on the role of policy and research in achieving digital inclusion.

According to her, the role of policy in ensuring digital inclusion is all evident but not so for research. For instance, a recent research conducted in Abuja, shows major gaps in knowledge, usage and the willingness to use ICT by civil servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government in Abuja.
She further explained that the study of websites of 12 state governments in 2017 (six in the north and six in the south), shows that most states do not have functional efficient websites, while one state among the 12 do not have any official website at all.

She therefore, called for more research facilities and promulgation and implementation of relevant policies for more strategic leverage of ICTs in all sectors of the economy, politics, society and culture, adding that funding for ICT research should be integral to digital inclusion.

According to Akpan-Obong, the future of digital inclusion is already here with us and she encouraged the Nigerian government to grow digital leaders among the upper-level public and civil servants who are digital literates and are committed to promoting digital services.

She said government must be committed to local acquisition and development of technologies and make funds available for technology startups abs technopreneurs as well as make funding available for ICT research. She added that there was need for training of those who manage and use technologies as well as the need for the review of old laws, and if necessary, enacting new ones to legitimize electronic transactions.

Speaking on the barriers and opportunities of digital inclusion, Akpan-Obong said lack of awareness, skills training for capacity building, access and availability to technology and infrastructure as well as the ease of use of technology and high cost of technology, could be barriers to achieving digital inclusion.

She called on government to increase efforts in awareness creation and sensitisation of its citizens towards digital inclusion through skills training and providing access to technology tools that will enhance digital inclusion. She said a large chunk of Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64, are on the margins of the digital economy that has been broadly defined. She explained that many digital inclusion projects were still far from the reach of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are located in few regions and cities. She suggested the establishment of more ICT projects that will enhance the overwhelming use of ICT tools in today’s digital era.

Digital inclusion and e-voting
A former Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Otta in Ogun State, Prof. Charles Korede-Ayo, who spoke on the role of digital inclusion in electoral processes, said digital inclusion remained a necessary condition for effective use of electronic voting (e-voting) and electronic governance (e-governance).

He said government at all levels must provide the necessary infrastructure like broadband, hardware, power, among others, needed to enhance digital inclusion index ranking. Giving the production of e-voting equipment like card readers to foreign companies, will be huge capital flight for Nigeria to lose to foreigners. He suggested a joint venture with Nigerian IT professionals in order to cut electoral cost.

Citing Ekiti State gubernatorial election that gulped about N600 million, Korede Ayo, said he could imagine the cost of the 2019 general elections, but suggested that collaboration with IT professionals from the Nigerian Computer Society on e-voting, would go a long way to enhance voting efficiency and cost reduction.
He therefore called on IT professionals to venture into politics and become major players in political decision making and implementation in the country.

“IT professionals must take advantage of the globalised economy to develop Apps needed to enhance digital inclusion for individual benefits and the benefits of the nation in general. IT professionals from Nigeria Society of Engineers, NSC and Nigeria Communication Satellite, should initiate a committee to harness available products that will drive digital inclusion,” Korede-Ayo said.