Nigeria has expressed interest in formulating a sound national ICT policy that will encompass all levels of society, says Marcel Belingue, training and capacity building programme manager, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).
The statement comes after a five-day workshop aimed at developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating effective national ICT policies on the continent. The CTO and the Nigerian ministry of information and communication hosted the event, in Abuja, earlier this month.
Belingue notes that, although the country is one of the most progressive countries in Africa in terms of ICT development, there is no formal ICT policy that exists at national level.
"There are sound policies around telecoms regulations and IT guidelines, but no holistic document as such."
Jide Awe, CEO of Nigerian ICT development organisation Jidaw Systems, notes the government has set up the Nigerian National ICT for Development (ICT4D) Strategic Action Plan (2005-2008) committee. This follows initial teething problems with the development of a national ICT policy in a changing Nigerian landscape.
The committee aims to develop a new ICT policy for development as the ICT action plan and roadmap for the nation, says Awe, who is also a resource person for Nigeria's ICT4D Strategic Action Plan.
So far, the committee has invested time in developing the policy by using various inputs, he says. "The plan will provide concrete implementation strategies over the next five years in key sectors."
Awe notes the future of ICT in Nigeria depends on a comprehensive ICT strategy for the whole sector. "There is an urgent need to put relevant and realistic ICT strategies in place that engender initiatives and developments with a focus on national priorities."
Documented and updated ICT policies will help to facilitate the development of a knowledge economy, he adds.
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