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With the official
launch of the Information and Communications Technology for
Development, ICT4D plan document yesterday in Abuja, all the federal
government ministries, departments and agencies have been urged to
start full implementation of the ICT agenda relevant to them.

President Goodluck
Jonathan gave this directive at the opening of the e-Nigeria 2010
summit in Abuja. He said this was necessary, considering the place of
Information Technology in achieving sustainable socio-economic
development in the current global economy.

“We must bear in
mind that this document cannot implement itself,” he said. “It requires
that stakeholders should embark on specific actions and initiatives as
outlined in the plan for us to achieve the desired objective of
mainstreaming ICT into our national development agenda.”

On the part of the
government I direct that all ministries, departments, and agencies
should commence immediate implementation of areas of the Nigerian ICT4D
plan that are relevant to their respective mandates.”

Funding the project

The President, who
was represented at the event by Mohammed Abubakar, minister of science
and technology, said adequate budgetary provision should be made for
various projects and programmes in the implementation of the plan,
adding that the projects should be people oriented and will be
implemented in accordance with best practices and laid-down due process.

Other tiers of
government are to study the document and design mechanisms for active
participation in order to ensure that the process does not widen the
digital divide between the federal and other tiers of government. This
will ensure that all Nigerians play active role in the global
information society and the digital economy.

The ICT4D plan, according to him, is a major tool for driving the Vision 2020 target set by the federal government.

Mr. Jonathan called
on the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to
develop the mechanism, including key performance indicators, for proper
coordination and monitoring of the different programmes to be embarked
upon in the implementation of the Nigerian ICT4D plan.

“This will enable
us have regular reports and updates of progress made in the
implementation process,” he said. “This is in addition to the concerted
efforts to be put in place by all stakeholders in order to marshall
adequate resources for effective implementation.”

Bridging the digital divide

Cleopas Angaye,
director general of NITDA observed that the three-tiers of government
have integrated IT into their various functions with different level of
compliance.

“It is however
apparent that much is left to be done especially in the area of people
oriented IT programmes and initiatives in Nigeria,” he said. “It is in
pursuit of this people oriented programme that NITDA has developed the
Nigerian Information and Communications for Development action plan
which is expected to position Information Technology as engine of our
national development and by so doing, integrate the country into the
current global economy driven by technologies.

NITDA is therefore
using eNigeria 2010 to create awareness and present the document to all
Nigerians in order to aid the use of information technology in every
sector on Nigerian economy. All successful economies of the world are
knowledge based and technologically-driven. Nigeria cannot afford to be
left behind in working towards the globally shared vision of an
information society that enables people to fulfil their potentials,
enhance sustainable growth, accountability and transparency in
governance.”

Clement Dzidonu, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s
coordinator for Nigeria ICT4D plan said formulating appropriate ICT4D
plan will help move Nigeria to right side of the digital divide.