ICT R & D AND SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT by Professor Charles O. Uwadia

1. ICT R & D AND SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT by Professor Charles O. Uwadia President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Email: president@ncs.org.ng

2. Outline of Presentation • Introduction • WSIS Declaration on ICT – Need for R &D in ICT • Objectives of R & D in ICT • State of R & D ICT in Nigeria • Opportunities • Way Forward

3. INTRODUCTION • R&D remains the bedrock of any self-reliant national economy. The Agrarian, Industrial and ICT revolutions have all been made possible as a result of progress made in R&D in these three sectors. Advancement in these sectors is one of the indices for assessing the development and competitiveness of national economies. • Bodies involved in R&D include institutions of higher learning (such as Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics, Colleges of Technologies); government agencies and research institutes; international bodies; and industrial concerns. • Fields/disciplines covered by R&D are all-encompassing and include Agriculture, Health/Medicine, Education, Engineering/Technology, Science etc. and specifically Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

4. WSIS DECLARATION ON ICT – NEED FOR R&D IN ICT • The WSIS declaration recognized education, knowledge, Information and Communication as being at the core of human progress, endeavour and well-being. • Further, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have an immense impact on virtually all aspects of our lives. The rapid progress of these technologies opens completely new opportunities to attain higher levels of development. The capacity of these technologies to reduce many traditional obstacles, especially those of time and distance, for the first time in history makes it possible to use the potential of these technologies for the benefit of millions of people in all corners of the world.

5. To achieve a sustainable development of the Information Society, national capability in ICT Research and Development should be enhanced. Furthermore, partnerships, in particular between and among developed and developing countries, including countries with economies in transition, in Research and Development, technology transfer, manufacturing and utilization of ICT products and services are crucial for promoting capacity building and global participation in the Information Society. The manufacture of ICTs presents a significant opportunity for creation of wealth • ICT Applications should be user-friendly, accessible to all, affordable, adapted to local needs in languages and cultures, and support sustainable development. To this effect, local authorities should play a major role in the provision of ICT services for the benefit of their populations.

6. Cultural diversity is the common heritage of humankind. The Information Society should be founded on and stimulate respect for cultural identity, cultural and linguistic diversity, traditions and religions, and foster dialogue among cultures and civilizations. • The creation, dissemination and preservation of content in diverse languages and formats must be accorded high priority in building an inclusive Information Society. The development of local content suited to domestic or regional needs will encourage social and economic development and will stimulate participation of all stakeholders, including people living in rural, remote and marginal areas.

7. OBJECTIVES OF R & D IN ICT • To bring ICT nearer to the people • To facilitate ease of use of ICT devises and facilities • To make ICTs more affordable • To increase ICT penetration and diffusion in Nigeria • To increase local content in the manufacture and • production of ICTs • To develop indigenous, local capacity for sustainable • development and advancement of national ICT initiatives. • To develop ICTs that are adapted and best suited to the local • environment • To create employment opportunities through the expansion of • local industry • To develop capacity for export of ICTs

8. STATE OF R & D IN ICT IN NIGERIA • CONSTRAINTS • Existing national policy framework (2001 – 2005) is outdated; • a new policy is in the works • Available information on what is going on, who is doing what, • is rather sketchy • Not all the local OEMs have R&D units • No national institution with sole responsibility of conducting • R&D in ICT • R&D not well developed in institutions of higher learning • Possible duplication of R&D activities by different bodies. • Lack of coordination with different levels of government. • Need for institutionalized relationship with local and • international R&D bodies. • Need for synergy between companies involved in R&D and • Users/User companies. • Inadequate investment in R&D.

9. OPPORTUNITIES • Opportunities are quite enormous; many areas yet to be • tapped • Investment • Collaboration and partnership with global bodies • WAY FORWARD • Define a new policy framework/roadmap • Develop an action plan based on the roadmap • Classify the R&D bodies into sectors.

10. Develop a portal containing the database of bodies involved • in R&D. • Disseminate products/outcome of R&D. • Networking of R&D bodies locally. • Establish linkages between local R&D and international • bodies. • Establish synergy between governments at different • levels and the R&D bodies. • Develop a programme for Investment in R&D. • Establish linkages between R&D companies and User • Establish R&D Centres in institutions of higher learning • Establish independent regional institutions with the sole mandate of carrying out R&D in the mould of UNU/IIST • Institute exchange programmes involving local and foreign experts as a way of facilitating knowledge and technology transfer

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