Why greater investment in ICT is key

The world has morphed into a small village through information technology. ICT, as it called, has been playing vital roles in information dissemination across the world and within countries. In the recent past, things were different as only a few people had analogue phone lines then installed by Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL). Then, NITEL workers were treated like kings as people visited NITEL offices nationwide to make calls. Another medium of sending messages across to people before the advent of ICT was the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

Mobile telephony was introduced to the general public in Nigeria during the administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo. There were two prominent network providers, MTN and ECONET, and the subscribers to these networks were infinitesimal before the emergence of GLO, MTEL, VODACOM and ETISALAT.

The emergence of these service providers enhanced the flow of communication in the country; people can now communicate with one another without necessarily moving out of their bedrooms. Many relationships are established these days through the dissemination of information online.

It is not an exaggeration to say that ICT is an enabler of effective dissemination of information to members of the public in this jet age, and that anyone who is not ICT-compliant will be an oddity. This is why the government should invest more in ICT. In particular, students at all levels will immensely benefit from it and later give back to the society, as it is happening in many developed countries.

Michael Oladimeji, Ibadan.

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