IT ROADMAP: NIGERIAN INFORMATION-CLOT CRISIS AND GOVERNANCE!

PART I

By: Chris Uwaje:

The character of a nation, we are told, is a mirror of her information system – with particular reference on her ability to organize and manage its national Database Warehousing at all levels. Many years ago, I wrote about the character of our nation’s information system – under the title: “Nigeria: Chocking under Information Overload”. Today, I intend to revisit the subject from the perspective of “Nigerian Information-Clot Crisis and Governance”. That we presently live in an information-intensive distorted environment and governance is an open book and foregone conclusion by all of us. What remains is, to identify and locate its source so as to deliver simple but functional solutions for our sustainable development. However, in this era of Information Technology and the emerging knowledge society, we need not search too far. The objective of this write-up is, to analyze the core reasons for the nation's slow, distorted and unstable development within the context of organizing, standardizing, administering and managing her data and information structures - a symptom that has trailed our under-development scenario for many decades. Therefore, the word "STANDARD" will predominantly feature and intensively re-occur as we read along.

It will attempt to show how the abject neglect for consistent creation, design, application, management and storage of acceptable information and Technology standards were responsible for creating massive economic development congestion and distortion; the resultant effect is the generation of an artificially complex way-of-life - now a monstrous tumor in our development mind-set!

Furthermore, it will also attempts to measure the rate and impact of data generation and information processing accumulation - in the absence of the right tools and technology-driven infrastructure for effective, speedy and efficient information processing as well as for communication delivery. Critical aspects of the analysis will be supported by graphic projections.

In the concluding part, the presentation will among others, attempt to proffer workable solutions on how Informatics, fueled by a Strategic National I.T Policy Framework, can restructure, reengineer and ventilate an information overload environment. In the Final Analysis, it will emphasize how the implementation of National I.T Policy can be made more meaningful - through the application of a model e-development structured on knowledge-based and scientific policy design legislation, for the purpose of empowering both producers and users of information for economic progress and overall good.

An Overview of Nigeria's Information Overload Scenario

Nigeria today, represents a huge and unorganized and therefore imperfect information system - each cluster operating almost independently without recourse to any interfacing standards, linkages and feedback. This negates the fundamental principle of structured interactive dependency of data and information, which must be inter-linked, networked and interact at various micro-levels - as an inevitable transformation process for generating meaningful knowledge, based on acceptable level of 'organized national database standard'.

Information overload without the effective knowledge and tool (technology) to analyze, extract, standardize, process, store, retrieve and efficiently distributed through secured pipeline of networks for the needs of the entire society, has the capability of clustering into “info-clot crisis” which often lead to unforeseen development eclipse - choking a nation's development goals! It applies to corporate business organisations, institutions, social clubs and the family. For information to make better sense, it must be meaningfully organized, warehoused, re-structured, analysed, standardized, tested and ultimately transformed into a process of productive knowledge.

Life, man and his total environment represent a fearful quantum of complex information load. Some of them are and have life forms, others are not. Some are mobile and super-active, while others either incubate or are dormant. Almost all have color, intriguing designs, fascinating style, standard and acknowledged wisdom. Therein lies the challenges of developing appropriate information system sort engines for the effective organization, deployment and management of life-form data and information before the hit the crisis level and boil over. The persistent national fuel crisis and response by governance is a very significant case in point. In this regard, the current situation demands a knowledge-based and technology driven approach, if a long-tern solution must be delivered, else, the future children born today (at the very moment you are reading this) will in 20 years be at high risk still trying to visualize the blatant mirage of our hide and seek fuel crisis – which indeed is info-clot crisis which has become a dynamic feature of under-development.

The entire universe therefore and life in particular as we know it today represent the most complex information web. The wise say: "life is a story." Perhaps, there is need to emphasize that "life is an unending story of structural formation of data and knowledgeable information networks - which ultimately converges into intelligence."

The thin-line, which divides nations within the context of development at all levels, is found in the basic equation on how they plan, time and process, apply, store and retrieve information at all levels - classified under "knowledge" and "intelligence."

Of the 44 years (so called) existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an unimaginable volume of data and information (printed. written, pictures, video and oral/voice) have been generated. Amazing proportions of this information volume were undocumented. A major part of the documented aspect - which can be perceived as a warehouse of knowledge is either not properly stored or got perished and/or currently dumped in dark corners or sorry environment populated by man! Some of this knowledge treasure are abroad, actively developing other nations.

As population grows, demand for basic and sophisticated information also multiplies many folds. To cope with this demand (both locally and internationally) it is pertinent that advanced high-tech skills, tools and technology should be deployed to enhance and deliver efficient services –both for governance and private business alike. User skill must also be enhanced through continuos training to empower and encourage creativity. Above all, such information must be reliable, mobile and accessible by anyone at all times and from any point.

In a nutshell, information-clot overload is a process of rapid data and information accumulation in an environment (particularly governance) with slow response tools (technology) to analyse, process, re-distribute and manage refined information for society's use, development and creation of wealth. This leads to info-clot crisis. Our present info-clot situation is a clear symptom on muscle society development, when compared to machine society development in global competitiveness.

Information-clot overload by definition is the process of massive accumulation of unorganised data and information without re-course to any acceptable standard or long-term objective direction. Due to the lack of this standard, information overload is predominantly centralized in a standalone format, devoid of inter-connectivity potentials, is abundantly manual, structurally deficient, often too massive to document and store with available tool, usually inaccessible by the majority and overtly secretive! Therefore when such info/data-clot boils over (when indeed, it would have been prevented through Data Warehousing, Mining and Business Intelligence (BI) strategies), governance by manual mode becomes incapable to respond effectively. This info-clot cycle also, often leads to development setbacks and lost of direction for nation building, growth and creation of wealth.

In the final analysis, information-clot overload creates a serious glut, slows down socio-economic productivity and development process; above all, it breeds covert illegal institutions responsible for national resources sharing blockage. The resultant effect of information overload is a vicious circle of 'out-of-life' or outdated data and information pool that have been overtaken by global events but still remains in circulation at snail speed! It abundantly builds up communities of massive ignorance amidst fearful economic artificiality, distortion and rapid population growth.

Information-clot overloads which breed ignorance in both the leaders and the led usually degenerate to a level of the abandonment of societal responsibilities. When this type of information overload occurs, the machinery of governance sails into troubled waters and becomes protective and ultimately turns a dictator and dander to global peace. This inability to empower the citizenry with the up-to-the-nanosecond information to innovate, create, produce and compete in the free marketplace opens up the local market for massive consumption of imported goods.

It re-focuses the mind-set from innovative/creative vision to a plague-like consumer mentality. Unknown to them, what they actually consume as product, is data and information transformed into knowledge from which the product is made. Let's we forget, a product constitutes, its labour content (Human Resource data and information), material content (R&D data and information), invention and creativity content (education and empowerment) and of-course its capital content (Natural resources and knowledge management). That's a basic form of science and technology interplay.

Characteristics of Information-Clot Overload

Conventional Information-clot Overload exists in oral, paper, video, and physical environment format. Oral information has been with us all for a long time and has become very natural. The core aspect of information overload for economic management, corporate business functions, religious activities, social/entertainment aspects of family life and for governance exist in paper, film and other media formats.

IT ROADMAP: NIGERIAN INFORMATION-CLOT CRISIS AND GOVERNANCE!

PART II

By: Chris Uwaje:

It may be perceived that currently, about 99.9 per cent of our day-to-day data combination and information movement or delivery exist in non-electronic format. This leaves just about 0.1% in digital format! With a population of more than one hundred and Fifty million (150,000,000) people, Nigeria's Information-clot overload factor can be said to have indeed grossly slowed down our national development efforts and sustainable growth over the last four decades!

Above all, it has fuelled mis-representation of economic planning parameters, generated performance distortion, and overwhelmingly aided and abetted corruption and economic instability in our nation. Information-clot Overload is an embodiment of "manual/muscle Workload", while the reverse is the "thinking or knowledge workload." In today's global competitiveness information-clot overload in paper form amounts to organisational and administrative incompetence. It is a big and serious problem. Further analyzed, information overload decreases national or corporate productivity potentials. This is mainly because it takes much longer time to find, process, store and deliver this type of information - especially when it occurs in an environment without an efficient infrastructure and means of point-to-point data communication.

Due to the intensity of time devoted to searching, sorting and processing data and information, generation of qualitative output is essentially slowed down; making us achieve in four (4) weeks what is digitally achievable in 4 hours or less! A typical example is the time needed to fill out, process and deliver 'paper forms' compared to the speed and productivity associated with electronic form processing and delivery.

Making Sense out of Information Overload

There is a distinct difference between the index of an "information rich" environment and an "information-clot overload" environment. While the former has the attributes of data and information standards, organised in a knowledge-based format, the latter (information overload) is characterized by huge clusters of non-standardized and essentially unorganized data and none-mobile information that do not make much sense for the fulfillment of life!.

How can we make sense out of an Information-clot Overload? Contrary the views of pessimists, contents of information overload can be refined, transformed into knowledge and activated to fuel productivity. To ventilate information-clot overload, forge an objective direction and make better sense of it, there is need for research on data structures and match data combination from multiple sources - using advanced technology tools. The result from such a conscious study of structured data analysis inevitably leads to a knowledge-based information system. This can be further enhanced to develop specialised intelligent systems as strategic imperative for development and sustainable growth. However, in order to achieve the objective of gathering data, creating databases transforming them into information that leads to knowledge and intelligence, it is pertinent to create an enabling information technology environment with a solid infrastructure foundation. Essentially, the speed attribute and rapidity of change within the dynamics of Information and Communications Technology must be carefully considered at the

inception of the design for a formidable I.T infrastructure. Often than we realize, a good and flexible flow of data combination and meaningfully extracted information leads us to special domain of knowledge hitherto classified impossible or unattainable. This process will eventually generate a functional standard for data and information processing and communication - both in its oral, printed and digital formats.

Information Poverty Alleviation

In terms of availability and assessment of human and natural resources, Nigeria cannot be said to be a poor nation. However, in terms of how these resources are created, planned, organized, managed and administered (through the procedures of: visioning, conceptualization, identification, generation, processing, sharing, and distributed - information-wise - she can be perceived and classified as a poor nation. This poverty is essentially, an information structure poverty! Indeed, Nigeria suffers overtly from a myopic data standard and information system poverty. Poverty alleviation from the context of the Nigerian State therefore, is fundamentally a subject of information poverty alleviation and the associated technology to accelerate knowledge formation, access to knowledge, multiplication of knowledge and to speed-up the distribution of knowledge to all nooks and cranny - supported with advanced infrastructure and technology tools.

Information-Clot Overload Turnaround

Under the assumption that we eventually get smart and get it right with the state of the retention of our inter-generational knowledge-base human resource, power generation and distribution, improved tele-density and universal access to computers and the internet, building National Intranet Point of Presence as well as associated infrastructure, let us ponder for a while and imagine the following: Let's just imagine if major our national Agricultural data are collated, studied and matched into meaningful database and converted into digital format and warehoused in standard networks for use nationwide? Maybe, we would have registered better yields and improved productivity in terms of quality and volume. Indeed, we would have created abundant employment both in the fields and offices. Furthermore it would have helped a great deal in reviving our export potentials in that sector. Better understanding and application of such information can be achieved through special vocational training.

And imagine if all the mechanics, technicians and automobile engineers and spare parts dealers are literate, properly trained (technically), have access to and use standardized data structures and information to deliver their various services and solutions for their various industrial sectors? Maybe, - with new enhanced training - the rampant trial and error associated with that service sector would have reduced automobile repair errors which, lead to ignorant road mishap and unpardonable deaths on our highways to the barest minimum.

Then, let’s imagine if all those lovely and gifted kids in our more than 40,000 primary schools and proportional number of those in secondary schools and the ripe minds in our tertiary institutions have unlimited access to standard educational portal database networks and can share digital online information nationwide? Maybe, they would have started having graphic funs, experimenting, conducting research online, sending intranet e-mails (in-country e-mails which will save millions of foreign exchange) and attempting serious homework/assignments - with the extended ability to share same with their teachers and parents? And indeed, maybe Cultism would have disappeared long ago; exam malpractice would have hidden its ugly face forever, and honour, merit and pursuit of excellence would have been enthroned to permeate all segments of our educational endeavors.

I can hear you say: "Wait a minute!" 'Why can we not imagine the possibility - indeed necessity - of establishing a digital workforce environment at all levels of our Civil Service in general and arms of governance in particular (the Legislative, Executive, and the Judiciary)? Why can we not imagine the National Assembly communicating electronically, not only amongst themselves, but also with the rest of society? Is that now what e-governance within the context of e-Development is all about?

Maybe, we would have begun to perceive and feel accountability in the practical sense of the word? Maybe resource allocation would have become transparent and equitable? Maybe future Acts and Bills of National Assembly would achieve a greater objective for the entire nation? Maybe NEPA, NITEL, IMMIGRATION AND POLICE would have changed for the better, and corruption reduced to the barest minimum? What about Justice delayed? Maybe the "I know the judge" syndrome and obsolete legal tactics of judicial laziness (overkill adjournments) would have disappeared - because the digital challenge would have kept everyone on his/her toes? Maybe the lawyer would have been drafted back to the classroom to learn the basics of Informatics and its impact on society - for the purpose of preparing and presenting a digital legal framework for the nation; where a highly technical and detailed legal surgery must be performed on the Law of Evidence?

Imagine if just 20% of the paper forms we fill in order to transact business with both government and corporate outfits in the country are converted to electronic forms? The forms we all have to fill and process in most hospitals, health centres and clinics nationwide overwhelms us all. Neither the hospitals nor the patients can cope with the mountain of accumulated forms, which contain meaningful and valuable data and information about our lives. Imagine if those valuable data and information are properly structured, combined, digitally processed and stored to support us through our life journey - from birth until death do us part!?

Maybe, typhoid fever would never have reared its ugly head; the astronomical death rate of our women at child birth would have diminished significantly, becoming an envy to all; infant mortality rate would have remained at only a double digit; Labour would have retained much of its lost health to increase productivity and create wealth for all? And maybe, the life expectancy in Africa would have remained positively unrivaled in the Guinness Book of Records? And imagine if all duties payable for all imported goods are electronically computed, displayed online and accessible to all before the arrival of goods at our major ports? Can you imagine the huge harvest of revenue to the country? May be. May be. May be.Maybe Customs and Excise revenue yield would have been up one million fold!

The list of 'maybe' this and 'maybe' that is not limited to the above. It spans and embraces all facets of our society and indeed of life. But, one thing is crystal clear. That is, 'the information age is here to stay.' This revolution will affect and impact on every thing we see, touch, use, do, and interact with in the very near future. Furthermore, the two key driving engines of this revolution are: Information Technology and Communications Technology. Software Technology is the core knowledge embedded within this revolution. It is therefore of strategic imperative that our National Informatics Policy and strategic plan framework must concentrate and seriously look into the dynamics of software development as the primary gateway to global competitiveness.

The Age Of Reason

Just as a goldsmith in Germany 500 years ago molded his first 'typeface' that revolutionized the printing industry, so will the Internet change the face of corporate business and governance forever. Remember the German who printed a book he visioned must sell? Yes, Herrn Gutengerg. With his molded typeface, he printed the 'Gutengerg Bible that sold out globally.

Gutenberg's case was a vision of circumstances like any other invention. The interesting thing is that he put his visionary idea into action at the right time. The consequence is a full blown revolution - exploding out of one man's head and engulfing the world. The age of reason is here again. The 21^st century age of reason dictates that 'change' is dynamic and constant. It is however pertinent to emphasize that a given global change or revolution of a kind affects and influences the global development equilibrium (positively and negatively). It must also be said that with I.T, the benefits outweigh the impending damage!

IT ROADMAP: NIGERIAN INFORMATION-CLOT CRISIS AND GOVERNANCE!

PART III

Chris Uwaje

First, when a global change sets in, the development equilibrium registers a crack along a dividing line! This crack is an early warning of the shape of things to come. It is a sign of the impending divide. The I.T development crack has started its long journey. This crack will undoubtedly create 'a digital divide.' Poor national telephone density can negatively accelerate the process of a digital divide for a nation like Nigeria. See FIGURE 2.

In the same way, it will be recalled that the agricultural revolution was raptured by change. That is, the change brought about by the industrial revolution. The consequences of the early cracks of the industrial revolution are what we still feel today in the name of developed, developing and underdeveloped nations (the effects of the industrial development divide!).

Information and Communications Technology has started to induce a global change. This change will affect nations, businesses, family, individuals and the environment - in the social, economic, political and cultural senses of the word. It is already affecting and influencing the domains of agriculture, education, politics, employment, health, production processes, consumption, environment and lifestyle, banking and finance, recreation and other forms of life activities.

Indeed, I.T has announced (projected) the possibility of space travel by 2020 - please, book your ticket now. After all, philosophers earlier warned us that, the world is a market place! I.T is an embodiment of the biggest and most complex market known to man in the 21^st Century.

The I.T age of reason therefore demands that Nigeria in particular (the single largest population of the black race) must act and re-act firmly and speedily, as we enter the dangerous curve of 21^st Century digital development challenge.

CONCLUSION:

Development @ the Speed of Vision

Now, there is a very limited excuse for nations not to develop as fast as the speed of their vision can propel them. Nigeria must now begin to develop as fast as our dreams can carry us. We can and must develop @ the speed of our collective vision and thought-processes. Information and Communications Technology affords us the opportunity to do so.

National development @ the speed of vision, within the context of global competitiveness has now become an information issue. In clear terms, it is a knowledge-base issue - woven around information technology. We may have abundant natural resources and human capital, but other nations who have a better information knowledge (about our environment) and capability may become the main beneficiary of those resources - given the opportunity of 21^st Century globalization.

The core solution to the logical attainment of national development @ the speed of our perceived vision lies in the standardization of our data and information system - applying the required and effective information and communications tools, anchored on a solid I.T infrastructure foundation.

This is one sure way of leapfrogging technologically and earning the immense benefits presented by the digital revolution. Above all, it is the meaningful way to jumpstart and uplift the over all productivity and standard of living of a nation. Not to do this will amount to driving our collective interests into the looser side of the emerging 'digital divide'. I dream that each Nigerian child of 10-12 years age bracket, will have access to a Broadband –based PC, Notebook and a Palmtop, a GSM, a from now……this is possible @ the speed of vision!

By now, we must all agree that there is a fundamental need to 'change the mindset of how we live, work and govern '. The heart of this change lies within a hand click on a digital mouse. To effect this change Nigeria must turn information technology into a national movement. The I.T movement can be effectively driven by a well-articulated National Strategic plan for the implementation of the Informatics Policy - where Software development is given the top most priority. An I.T blueprint is the first solution.

The challenge presented by global ICT development propels us towards a mandatory age of reasoning. It compels us to develop through creativity and sharpened skill. Presently, it challenges us to create and manage knowledge-based activities in order to enthrone an intelligent society.

Today, the client-server technology affords us the possibility to tame our information overload culture. The microprocessor revolution presents us with the means to standardize and distribute knowledgeable information. With this technology, the PC networks (LAN/WAN) and the networked Server potentials, information integration and data combination are made easy - using effective point-to-point communication.

The age of reason allows any workstation, at any branch of the network to have access to any information at any time. This way, communities can communicate and share knowledge with each other. Universities can build-up potential knowledge and share it with each other. Government can deliver and receive meaningful information from the public. Population data can be accessed and utilized for productive analysis. Electronic Mails can be sent to and from the villages - now enhanced with wireless communication if the GMS palava is eliminated. In deed with ease, we can create information and knowledge for all! The resultant effect will create wealth beyond our collective imagination!

Strategy for Competitive I.T Development for Nigeria.

Implementation of any National Computing initiative without a National I.T Policy framework will be wasteful in terms of financial commitment and therefore an effort in futility. This is fundamentally so, because of the intensive structural relationship and dependency of one information technology domain with the other.

These information domains are inter-twined systems - obeying a dynamic networking principle in their functions. It is only a National Informatics Policy that is capable of exploring, creating and maximizing the benefit therein, for the purpose of enhancing productivity, fortifying development and sustainable growth - and above all, for functional competitiveness. I.T Legislation belongs to this framework.

The Time to Undertake Fundamental Decision:The time for Nigeria to decide is NOW. The strategic issues which must be adopted and implemented in the shortest possible time are, but not limited to the following:

1. Focus I.T as a National Movement: The President should make a fundamental statement to the Nation, proclaiming Informatics Technology and Software Development as the mandatory engine and fuel for Nigeria's development in the next 10 years. This statement which ultimately represents the aspiration of the people of Nigeria will then be transformed into what should be acceptable to all stakeholders as the first I.T Bill for Nigeria.

2. Set-up a National Committee - incorporating an I.T Vision Group/Task Force for the establishment of a National Blueprint on Information Technology for Nigeria - with knowledgeable Nigerians from cross professional discipline (both at home and abroad) as members. The main objective will focus on the design and implementation of LII, NII and GII, among others.

3. Government should set up a funding framework for undertaking a number of specialized I.T-related R&D study projects to understand core informatics problems and how to deliver functional I.T solutions with long-term benefit to the entire nation.

4. Establish and encourage a National Software Consortium of Private Sector I.T Companies to undertake major and large-scale Software- based I.T projects - primarily with domestic market guarantee. These products must have compulsory ISO 9000 and equivalent of SEI level-5 Standards. In order to enhance and sustain the quality of these products, there is need to establish Software Product Certification Agency/Agencies to classify and grant certification. Developing Automated Civil Service Application Software (ACSAS) represents a matching action for market guarantee by government.

Imperative for achieving the strategy attribute of A (above) is the fundamental importance of consciously building and developing a logical capacities and capabilities for a "large Army" of I.T manpower. This sums up to the design of a functional policy for Technology Capacity Building (TCB) in the I.T industry. This will require that we produce an average of minimum 30,000 thoroughbred I.T Software Engineers, Mathematics and Statistics graduates as well as Microelectronics Engineers - annually. Without further argument, this of-course calls for a total transformation of our Educational System.

Mandate and encourage key industries such as Banking and Finance, Petroleum, Power and Steel Insurance, the Health sector, Mineral Resources, Mining, and Manufacturing to work with local Software Development Companies.

The Strategy under A and B (above) will act as a springboard to lunch an offshore software development program for exports - using high speed satellite and fibre optic links. Towards this end, Government will act as the main catalyst for the establishment of a Global Software Export Consortium of competent Nigerian Corporate Developers - to lead the competitiveness challenge to be encountered in marketing "Made in Nigeria" Software, globally.

Organizational Structure Strategy: For effectively implementing and sustaining the benefits of National Informatics Policy, a formidable organizational structure must be put in place. Relevant studies have demonstrated in concrete terms that in the very near future "there will no longer be distinct data and voice markets, but just one for combined DATA/VOICE/VIDEO"

Therefore, this convergence will impact grossly on Broadcasting, Communication and Information Administration. In line with these fearsome and speedy development trend, there is need for the Establishment of a "MINISTRY OF INFORMATICS TECHNOLOGY" for Nigeria - not later than the first quarter of Year 2006.

Meanwhile, in anticipation of the take-off of the strategy under the above, the following must be put in place:

i. A strategy for the establishment of a National I.T Commission should be implemented without further delay.

ii. A strategy for the establishment of a National I.T Board (NITB).

iii. A strategy for the establishment of Software Council of Nigeria (SCN).

iv. A strategy for the establishment of Microelectronics Council of Nigerian (MECN). This is necessary to fortify existing structures (e.g: CPN)

Establish a mandatory National Program to train and re-train the entire Civil service to be I.T literate. Each Government Ministry should establish an Information Technology Department within the next 90 days. This becomes absolutely necessary in the face of the speedy transformation of the machinery of governance globally. Each I.T Department so formed should have a "Chief Information Technology Officer". His/Her responsibility will be the design and implementation of functional information systems - as an integral part of future E-governance strategy

.

Furthermore, with regards to the above, the National Youth Service Corps should the restructured and re-engineered as an Information Technology Training Centre - while still retaining the ethics of the NYSC objectives. In furtherance of this objective, special incentive program should be designed to attract the establishment of I.T Companies in and around our University Campuses nationwide.

Minimum of two (2) Software Development Parks and Centres (SDP/SDC) should be established in all the defined Regions of the Federation - within the next six months. Software development is the most economic way to join the global I.T race.

Local Assembly of Personal Computers must be encouraged by establishing Pilot Schemes in Regional locations. These Assembly Plants will be upgraded into Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Manufacturing Plants through the formation of business consortia. To earn the confidence of Nigerian and foreign investors, these outfits should be quoted in the stock exchange.

Banks, financial houses and Insurance firms should be encouraged by government to invest in the Information and Communications Technology Industry. In order to channel at least 5% of potential resources from those industrial sectors into I.T, special investment incentive program must be put in place.

Establishment of "ALL NIGERIAN I.T FORUM" as a platform to enable all informatics practitioners, students at home and abroad to effectively contribute. This has become fundamentally essential, because knowledge has no respect for national boundaries. Nigeria needs all the important contributions on how to effectively attack global I.T competitiveness to sustain the development of her people. We can draw these expertises from Nigerian I.T practitioners, stakeholders, users and prospective investors from all over the world. This is one of Nigeria's golden opportunities and advantage of the information age.

Initiate a special I.T literacy program for the Nigerian women. Towards this end, special incentives as income tax holiday should be given to I.T Companies who employ at least 30% of women as its workforce. The LII, NII and GII design and the R &D strategy should critically focus on the INTERNET - its operation, use and management.