How is our nation handling emerging security threats?
In today’s environment of emerging security threats, the need to re-engineer security routine processes via proper implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) is paramount to our everyday endeavours.
The critical need for highly-qualified, experienced and skilful workforce in all our security outfits, therefore, becomes highly imperative. The impact of computer technology in law enforcement has been tremendous. Law enforcement needs for computing skills have evolved as officers are required to have a good foundation of ICT skills.
The road is dark. Danger is imminent. Security concerns stare us in the face. Can there be investment, education, commerce or sustainable development in the absence of security? Not likely. Fear reigns as the threat to life and property is real. How is the nation fighting this battle? Increased vigilance has become imperative.
However, vigilance must be effective and appropriate. The question is security using which tools? Using which techniques? Various approaches are needed. There is no one answer to solve this great challenge. A multidimensional approach works best because there is a need for all kinds of answers. Whichever methods are deployed, today’s reality dictates that technology is a platform that cannot be ignored. In today’s modern age we simply must employ digital techniques in the improvement of security.
What should we do to make our security operatives ICT compliant?
Optimum security requires the technology platform. And it isn’t just about acquiring technology and new tools. There must be deep understanding of the issues at stake. A change from analogue to digital methods won’t be enough. A dinosaur with a laptop is still a dinosaur.
Mindsets must change. New thinking is needed to support and enhance security. It is about using digital inputs in a meaningful and effective manner to handle threats and outsmart the attackers.
It should be obvious that finding solution goes beyond buying machines and awarding ICT contracts. Focus should be on integrating ICT into the security environment. Technology focus in this environment is to support and improve the activities of all security agencies who are working in Nigeria to meet security commitments. With this approach, the power of ICT is the platform it provides to address contemporary and emerging security threats and challenges.
Implementation of the relevant applications and services should boost efficiency in areas of security that include public interaction/feedback, operational management, crime information and trends analysis as well as prevention and detection. ICT’s overall effect should be to reduce opportunities for crime and stay steps ahead of the criminals. Human capacity development is of course essential for operations management, maintenance and sustainable growth.
Beyond IT literacy and fundamentals, there is a need to grow professional ICT security capability based on global best practices.
Is the nation not at cross-roads with our level of preparedness?
The use of ICT to enhance security and all other aspect of life means that we need to wake up to the associated security challenges and prospects. With the right policies in place, ICT can help the government, its administrative, strategic and intelligence agencies build, deploy and manage technologies that would identify Nigerians and non-Nigerians, monitor and control their activities especially where they are illegal and where crimes are committed. Use of forensic technologies would detect and apprehend the perpetrators.
It is in this regard, the state securities department of the presidency needs to take the necessary steps to develop a directive that involves the credentialing and continuing education of all officers in ICT. This would also ensure a knowledgeable and skilled security forces that will be able to cope with the 21st century challenges.
In today’s digital information age, Nigeria is at a crossroads. We can either continue with our traditional ways of security routines or seize the new opportunities generated in the wake of rapid and relentless technological change.
What of our educational system; how ready is it for the digital age?
Today’s education regulatory agencies face a serious dilemma. Communities expect their graduates to be ready to thrive in the digital age. But the digital literacy skills required for such success is neither well defined, included in many learning standards nor measured on most state and local assessments. This short fall, therefore, makes it necessary for our tertiary institutions to be positioned to do more to keep to pace with the rapid technology, research, and societal changes that would ensure that students are ready to thrive in today’s knowledge-based global society.
Digital literacy and basic computing skills are increasingly necessary for individuals to have job opportunities and for nations to be competitive in the world. Without basic computing skills, citizens suffer from lack of valuable learning resources, an inability to engage with their government and their community, and lack of skills necessary in almost all modern jobs. Even students who have had the benefit of higher education have graduated without the skills employers need.
Without digital literacy, students are being prepared to succeed in yesterday’s world - not tomorrow’s. The reality of time is that the ubiquity of digital technologies and their place in our daily lives is an indication of the urgent need for our education regulatory agencies at the tertiary level to adopt digital literacy. Government should see it as the standard for the 21st century students training and workforce development so as to enable them to cope with the challenges of work, life and politics.
In today’s world, everyone should be an ICT user in other to work with computers and basic computer applications, access and use the internet effectively and productively. Citizens should be able to access government services delivered through ICT. This would help them to become more employable as lack of computer skills foils many job seekers efforts. Citizens should be involved in technology economy, be able to cope with today’s jobs which require computer skills. Employers are saying it, and job seekers are quickly figuring it out.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Chima Akwaja
Quelle/Source: Leadership Newspapers, 01.07.2013
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