Bridging the Digital Divide The Nigerian Case Study

1. Bridging the Digital DivideThe Nigerian Case Study By Prof. G. O. Ajayi, Director General/CEO National Information Technology Development Agency Federal Ministry of Science and Technology At Developing Country Access on Online Scientific Publishing Sustainable Alternatives ICTP Trieste, Italy. 4th – 5th October, 2002 Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

2. A Quotable quote…. “The Internet holds the greatest promise humanity has known for long-distance learning and universal access to quality education. It offers the best chance yet for developing countries to take their rightful place in the global economy. And so our mission must be to ensure access as widely as possible. If we do not, the gulf between the haves and the have-nots will be the gulf between the technology-rich and the technology-poor.” Kofi AnnanSecretary-General, United NationsScience, 19 February, 1999, page 1079 Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

3. Has 12% of World population, but 2% of World’s main telephone lines. More than 3/4 of the capital cities in African countries have developed some form of Internet access. Average level of income is the lowest, but the cost of installing telephone line is the highest. Recent Statistics has it that there are about 3 million Internet users in Africa with only 1 million outside South Africa. About 70-80 percent of Africa's population resides outside major cities, and local dial access facilities for them are still very rare Internet connectivity is 0.3% of the world-wide connectivity. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

4. ICT Position of Africa • ICT has provided enormous opportunities for development all around the globe • However, the African continent has not been able to benefit much from the information revolution because of the dearth of facilities • The telecommunication infrastructure is rather inadequate to meet the challenges of the information age • Under the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), priority has been given to the development of information and communications technology, recognising it as a major vehicle for African development. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

5. SITUATION OF ICT IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEI) IN AFRICAFunctions of HEIs (J. Daly) Include: • Education (traditional, distance education & others) • (Research & Development) • Knowledge Creation, Organization & Management • Knowledge Gate Keeping • Archival & Library Services • Management & University administration • Socio-economic-technological Services • Overcoming the Digital Divide • Human Resources Development in general • Technological Gate-Keeping • Technological Transfer & Adaptation Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

6. Levels of ICT and Internet Development in HEIs • Single Computer with Dial-Up facilities • Local Area Network (LAN) in a location for all users • Local Area Network • Campus Area Network • Library LAN • Internet Connectivity of Campus Network • VSAT and wireless facilities for quick deployment Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

7. State and Use of ICT in HEIs • Poor availability and quality of infrastructure • Inadequate Institutional Capacity • Inadequate Human Resource Capacity • Low bandwidth of connectivity Poor penetration of ICT into HEI’s • Poor penetration of ICT into HEI’s Some Obstacles • Absence of NICI policy to take care of HEI’s • Gross under-utilization of existing infrastructures • Poor telecommunications facilities • Electricity supply and other basic infrastructures Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

8. Uses in ICT in HEIs • Teaching, Learning and Research; • Contents provision; • Professional tool for future labour market; • Administration and Operational Management; • Tactical and Strategic Management; • Collection, dissemination and exchange of information; • Support for conduct and management of research; • Transformation of library to an Information collection, processing, compiling and dissemination unit; • Minimal usage of IT currently locally in the University and externally; Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

9. Library in the Information Age • Transformation into a new information services unit • Electronic acquisition and serials control • Electronic inter library loan • Electronic circulation functions • Gradual trends toward library digitization • Emergence of library information networks • Connectivity to campus intranet and Internet • Journals on CD-ROMs • Electronic Journals • Use of digital libraries in Africa and worldwide Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

10. Comparative Situation • Over 200 universities in the US have 45Mbps Internet connectivity • 85% of primary schools have 1.5Mbps Internet connectivity • ONLY a few African universities have 64kbps and higher bandwidth • Integration of IT into University Functions • Entry (teachers teach students to use IT) • Adoption (teachers use IT to support traditional instruction) • Adaptation (teachers use IT to enrich curricula) • Appropriation (IT is integrated and used for its unique capabilities) • Invention (Development of new learning environment using IT as a tool). Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

11. Some Findings about the on-line Discussion on ICT in HEIs in Africa • ICT provides powerful tools and new paradigm for execution of the functions of HEIs – education, knowledge creation, knowledge organization and management, knowledge gate keeping, archival and library services as well as socio-economic-technological services to the community; • A lot of similarity in the HEIs studied; • Need to transform HEIs from traditional role to a more demanding role catalyzed by the ICT; • Donor financial & technical assistance , especially in HRD were significant to the success of the projects; Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

12. Some Findings about the on-line Discussion on ICT in HEIs in Africa- contd • New curricula necessary, which is learner centered; • Integration of ICT into learning, research and managementis still in its infancy in most of the cases • Internet based degree programmes , and Internet based open Universities could constitute challenges to the traditional brick and mortar traditional universities • ICT strategic policy, plans and implementation mandatory • HEIs can be marginalized by global on-line institutions • Urgent need to integrate ICT into learning, research & management • Transformation of the library into new Information Services Unit Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

13. The Nigerian Situation • Nigeria, with a population of 120 million people is one of the fastest growing telecommunications market in Africa. • There are 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas. • Currently, the GSM operators are enjoying a record of more than 1 million subscribers in less than 1 a year of operation; • Access to Internet has been limited to the major cities and most times through dial-up connection from smaller cities at exorbitant rates and very unstable service. • With more than 60million Nigerian living outside the major cities, Internet connectivity is a major issue that should be given special attention in the IT industry. • Without adequate connections to advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services, many rural, and suburban communities may not be able to fully participate in the emerging information economy. • This is a trend that has to change in the near future. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

14. The Nigerian Situation (contd). • To address the problem of inadequate ICT infrastructure, the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken the following steps: • Launching of the new National Telecommunications Policy in September 2000 to further liberalize the sector. • Declaration of information and communication technologies as a national priority project. • Approval of the National policy on Information Technology and subsequent establishment of a National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in March/April 2001, as the implementing agency. • The launching of the Nigerian Satellite System programme by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSRDA). Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

15. Developments in the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology Sector • Privatisation and Liberalisation • Plans are on to privatise the national carrier- NITEL • Second National Operator has been licensed • GSM Licence • Four GSM operators have been given licenses • Fixed Wireless Access Spectrum Allocation • 34 operators have just been given licenses covering all the 36 states, including the FCT-Abuja Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

16. Nigerian National IT PolicyThe Vision • To make Nigeria an IT capable country in Africa and a key player in the Information Society by the year 2005, using IT as the engine for sustainable development and global competitiveness. • The Mission is to Use “IT” for: • Education • Creation of Wealth • Poverty Eradication • Job Creation • Global Competitiveness Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

17. Sectoral Application of theIT Policy • Human Resource Development • Infrastructure • Governance • Research and Development • Health • Agriculture • Urban and Rural Development • Trade and Commerce • Arts, Culture and Tourism • National Security and Law Enforcement • Fiscal Measures Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

18. Institutional Capacity Building Human Resource Capacity Building Infrastructure Capacity Building Implementation Strategy Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

19. Implementing the IT Policy • Changing the face of IT development in Nigeria is a move that needs the collaborative effort of both the Private sector, the public and international initiatives; • Baseline Studies will be conducted in various areas of IT Development; • Strategic Planning inline with National Development Plan; • The challenge is so great that it cannot be handled by the agency alone. • NITDA is therefore ready to work together with all in order to achieve the missions and visions of the policy; Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

20. A Brief History of NITDA • NITDA took off on April 18th 2001. • Started from Minister of S&T Conference room. • Moved to boy’s quarters of Biotechnology Resource Centre, Parakou Crescent. • Moved to the Corporate Headquarters, in Sept. 2001. • Started with a Staff Strength of 2. • Now has some substantial number of staff (over 40) for our operations. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

21. Some achievements of NITDA • Collaborations with the private sector to foster the growth of the IT industry in Nigeria. • Belief in Public Private Partnership (PPP). • Collaborations with International Organisations • UNDP – TICAD Initiative • UNESCO Plan of Action • The Nigerian-American Information Initiative (NAII) • CISCO Agreement • Embassy Initiatives • NDI on the National Assembly IT Projects • EDDI Community Resource Centre Project • Collaboration with Foreign governments • French government ICT initiative and the Italian Government e-government initiative. • Japanese Government • Collaborations with the Public Sector Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

22. Some achievements of NITDA (contd) • Achievements • Government Portal under construction. This will facilitate the development of G2G, G2C, C2G, interactions. • Development of an indigenous computer keyboard for national use. • Development of the National Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB) • Provision of Internet Access to the Presidential Network. • Public Service Information Network • Establishment of Enterprise Technology Centre at the Federal Secretariat Complex Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

23. Focus for the Year • National Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB). • NITDA/State Governments Partnership for VSAT Internet Installations and Broadband Wireless Facilities • Rural Internet Resource Centres (RIRC) • Mobile Internet Units (MIU). • Baseline Studies. • E-government. • Human Resources Development. • IT Parks • IT integration into sectors: civil service, military/security services, judiciary, health, etc Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

24. The Nature of theNational Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB) State Information Infrastructure Backbone (SIIB) Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

25. Other Projects • Open University and Distance Learning for Human Resource Development • Virtual Library Project • Rural Community Centres • Mobile Community Centres for the rural areas • Local Content Development on the Internet • Plans to utilize IT for tele-medicine Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

26. Nigeria and Distance Education. • The first significant approach to distance education in Nigeria started with the establishment of the National Open University (NOU) in July, 1993. • Though it was suspended, the law establishing the university was not abrogated. • Recently, the Federal Ministry of Education has come up with an implementation plan for the National Open and Distance Learning Programmes with its strategies planned around the resuscitation of the National Open University (NOU). Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

27. Challenges to Distance and Online Education in Nigeria. Institutional Capacity Development Human Resource Capacity Development Infrastructure Capacity Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

28. Infrastructure Capacity. • Distance and online education will require the development of a network of ICT infrastructure all over the country. • This can be achieved through: • Increasing the teledensity. • The availability of large bandwidth of ICT facilities like fibre optic network, ISDN. • Creating a network of VSAT stations in strategic locations in the country. • Most prospective students in Nigeria lack access to the Internet and www. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

29. Challenges toHuman Capacity • There is an acute shortage of skilled Distance and Online Instructor professionals. • Most lack content from their homes and where these are available, are quite expensive to maintain. • Many Nigerians still lack the basic computing skills. • Recent Efforts towards developing human capacity in Distance Education: • national workshop on distance education organized by the office of the Special Adviser on Education to the president, in September2000 with the theme “Evolving a National Policy on Distance”. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

30. Recent Efforts towards developing human capacityin Distance Education • Amongst other things the workshop proposed a materials development workshop. • A follow-up workshop was held in June, 2001 co-sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja office of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO), Dakar, Senegal-based UNESCO BREDA (Regional Office for Education in Africa), office of the Special Adviser on Education and the Education Tax Fund (ETF). • It drew more than 250 participants from the primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors, the ministry and its parastatals. There were also international participants from the Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. One of the resource persons, came from the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE). Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

31. Recent Efforts towards developing human capacity in Distance Education (contd) • During the June workshop, participants were trained in 'Writing Distance Education materials, Use of Visuals, Development of CD-ROM, online materials, Choosing Appropriate Technology, among others. • Sequel to the workshop, a National Open University Course Materials Development meeting was held in March in Lokoja Kogi State. The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) sent three experts down from Canada. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

32. Recent Efforts towards developing human capacity in Distance Education (contd) • The participants (over 125 top-rate academics from Nigeria's institutions of higher learning) were drilled on: • Systematic ways of developing and designing instructional materials and courses for distance learning. • Seven Critical Elements of Instructional Design for Open Learning • Preparing Instructional Materials and Delivery of Open Learning. • Evaluation of Open Learning Programmes, as well as open questions and discussions on open learning. • The participants were expected to have developed 183 courses will be written and 235 others adapted in 54 programmes carefully chosen to kick-start the re-establishment of the National Open University in Lagos. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

33. Efforts towards developing Institutional Capacity • Since early 1960’s, the Nation has been committed to remedying the deficiency in the colonial education strategy targeted to only a privileged few. • In 1976, government launched the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme to catalyse socio-economic development using education as a tool. • In 1977, the National Policy on Education was launched with a clear declaration from the government that “education is the most important instrument of change in any society. Any fundamental change in the intellectual and social outlook of any society has to be preceded by an educational revolution”. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

34. The National Open University. • The National Open University is designed to increase the access of all Nigerians to formal and non-formal education in a manner convenient to their circumstances. • It would cater for the continuous educational development of professionals in various sectors. • The Delivery method for :NOU is the best way to reach a leaner through the use of technologies that learner already has or can easily be made available. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

35. Academic Programmes to be run at NOU • These are grouped into logical degree structures under the following schools. • Information and Computer Services. • Agricultural Sciences • Business Administration and Management Studies. • Engineering & Public Studies. • Education. • Science and Technology • Health Sciences • Arts & Social Sciences. • Legal Studies • Vocational & Continuing Education. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

36. Obafemi Awolowo University Academic Network Project OAUNET - Current Design Computer Networking Project Overview of Network Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

37. OAUNet – The Obafemi Awolowo University Academic Network • In 1994/1995, the ICTP in collaboration with the Obafemi Awolowo University established the OAUNet in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, as a pilot academic information network. • This was the first university network in Nigeria. • OAUNet has grown from 2 subnets to over 15 subnets in a few years. • Nigeria’s largest network with over 1000 computers and more than 6000 users. • ICTP programme has contributed to the development of ICT in Nigeria in the following ways: • Nigerian Universities Network in capacity and infrastructure development. • Assistance to other universities. • Development of the National IT Policy Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

38. OAUNet – contd. • Private sector involvement in the university by establishing cybercafes. • The university network is also used for capacity building, training and infrastructure development. • The Obafemi Awolowo University is presently Nigeria’s largest single collection of IT capable persons – a critical mass of ICT experts. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

39. OAUNET - Main Network Diagram VSAT Earth Station 256 Kbps WaveLan 2Mbps Main HUB Dial up MODEM 33 Kbps Key sc - sciences tech - Technology cs - Computer Science usb - Secretariat chs - Health Science Agric- Agriculture NC - NACETEM OA - OAU Teaching hospital First Generation sc tech cs Second Generation usb chs agric Third Generation NC Several Subnets and CyberCafes Third Generation OA Planned Packet and HF radio links to rural Health establishments in the area Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

40. Main HUB or network WLAN Antenna Inter Subnet Router Firewall Mail Server WEB Server Terminal Equipment Proxy Server Backup Server Modem Server IntraWEB Server CISCO router Pentium III PCs 10 base 2 Ethernet Backbone Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

41. Technical Assistance to other Universities • Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) • University of Lagos, Yaba; • Lagos State University, Badagry; • University of Agriculture, Abeokuta • University of Ilorin; • Dept. of Physics, University of Ibadan and • The College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti • River State University of Science and Technology Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

42. Recommendations In view of the success stories of the ICTP pilot ICT programmes in Nigeria and other developing countries, • The ICTP programme on information and communication technologies should be fully restored, including: • The R & D in ICT • School on Radio Use for Information and Communication Technology. • Establishment of pilot academic information network in developing countries. • Junior Associates, Associates and Senior Associates programme in ICT should be supported by the ICTP. • ICT plays a major cross-cutting role in Science and Technology R&D; hence ICTP should recognise it as such and accord it necessary recognition. • For sustainability and revival of Science and Technology R&D in developing countries, ICTP must support ICT development in the developing countries. Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com

43. Thank you Contact Address: Prof. G.O. Ajayi Director General National Information Technology Development Agency Plot 695 Port Harcourt Crescent Off Gimbiya Street Area 11 Garki – Abuja Tel: 09 – 3142925 Fax: 09 – 3142924 Email: gajayi@yahoo.com, gajayi@nitda.gov.ng Website: www.nitda.gov.ng Prof. G.O. Ajayi - gajayi@yahoo.com