The national ICT4D plan is targeted at using ICT to achieve the government's Seven Point Agenda and "Vision 20: 2020," thereby deploying ICT to achieve Nigeria's Millennial Development Goals, NEPAD development initiatives and the World Summit on Information Society's plan of action. It contains actionable programs for short-, medium- and long-term implementation by identified stakeholders (in conjunction with local and/or international private organizations).
Specific sectors with ICT plan actions, strategies for implementation and timelines include education, agriculture, health, e-government, infrastructure, human resources, research and development, legal and regulatory framework, national security and law enforcement, legislature and governance, IT popularization and deployment in communities, and the private sector development cluster (which covers trade and commerce, banking, tourism, the service sector, industrial sector development, and local and foreign direct investment, amongst others).
Commenting at the final meeting of experts, professor C.O. Angaye, director-general of NITDA, stated that he is satisfied with the document and that the next stage will be to present the plan to the minister of science and technology for onward presentation to the president and the Federal Executive Council. He promised the committee of experts all necessary machinery has been put in place to facilitate the immediate implementation of the plan.
The chairman of the national committee, Dr. Takang Armstrong, also thanked the experts for their cooperation and input regarding the successful completion of the national assignment. He reiterated the need to create awareness for the document and facilitate support for implementation by all MDAs, states and other stakeholders.
Dr. Moses Ubaru - coordinator of the ICT4D development activities and director of planning, research and statistics for NITDA - noted the timeliness of the Nigerian ICT4D Strategic Action Plan's completion, as the present administration is seeking ways of mainstreaming ICT4D in "Vision 20: 2020." Moreover, he advised that NITDA work very closely with the National Planning Commission to ensure that the final ICT4D document serves as the working document for ICT4D in "Vision 20: 2020."
On the part of the ECA consultant, Prof. Clement Dzidonu, who has supervised work on ICT4D over the past four years, called the plan the most comprehensive ICT4D document in the whole of Africa, capable of moving the Nigerian economy to the next level.
Others in attendance at the final meeting include professor Charles Akinyokun, Dr. John Dada, Dr. Ado Dan-Isa, Jide Awe, Bankole Olubamise, Hakeem Ajijola and NITDA directors.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Segun Oruame
Quelle/Source: NetworkWorld, 25.06.2008
