ICT DEPLOYMENT FOR ICT DEPLOYMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN

NIGERIA RURAL AREASNIGERIA RURAL AREAS

A Presentation from the A Presentation from the NIGERIAN HIGH TECH WOMENNIGERIAN HIGH TECH WOMEN

ByBy

Hassan Omowunmi M.Hassan Omowunmi M.National Centre for Technology Management National Centre for Technology Management

(NACETEM), OAU, Ile-Ife(NACETEM), OAU, Ile-IfeAt At

ECOWAS Secretariat, AbujaECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja

3030thth June, June, 20052005

IntroductionIntroduction

There is need to understand There is need to understand women’s access to and use of ICTswomen’s access to and use of ICTs

It has been known that technological It has been known that technological innovations affect men and women innovations affect men and women differentlydifferently

There is therefore an obvious digital There is therefore an obvious digital divide that affects women especially divide that affects women especially the majority at the rural areas.the majority at the rural areas.

Expectations from womenExpectations from womenGain less access to formal education Gain less access to formal education But get skills that would be useful at But get skills that would be useful at homehomeGet marriedGet marriedBegin to reproduce childrenBegin to reproduce childrenCarry out domestic dutiesCarry out domestic dutiesMove away from families totally after Move away from families totally after marriagemarriageTake on a second class position in the Take on a second class position in the home and societyhome and societyAnd so onAnd so on

Restriction for WomenRestriction for WomenHold less education and hence, less Hold less education and hence, less economy and political powereconomy and political powerNo migration to urban centres so they can No migration to urban centres so they can take care of children and the elderly onestake care of children and the elderly onesNo right to communication and No right to communication and infrastructures e.g telephones, television, infrastructures e.g telephones, television, videos etcvideos etcPrevention from visiting public access Prevention from visiting public access points mostly visited frequently by menpoints mostly visited frequently by menLimited time available to participate in Limited time available to participate in training and lack of awareness of training and lack of awareness of available opportunitiesavailable opportunities

With ICTsWith ICTsInformation Communication Information Communication Technology (ICT) is the tool or Technology (ICT) is the tool or catalyst for economic productivity catalyst for economic productivity and developmentand developmentICT gives access to information, ICT gives access to information, knowledge, transparent and efficient knowledge, transparent and efficient social servicessocial servicesICT is for “Empowerment of the Poor”ICT is for “Empowerment of the Poor”

““The poor is one who lacks power, The poor is one who lacks power, opportunity, security and freedom to opportunity, security and freedom to choose way to life”choose way to life”

Harnessing ICTs for education and Harnessing ICTs for education and rural accessrural access

In Nigeria, women is said to be about 55% of the In Nigeria, women is said to be about 55% of the total population by researchers and therefore total population by researchers and therefore play a major role in child language literacy, play a major role in child language literacy, agriculture, SMEs agriculture, SMEs butbut without access to modern without access to modern ICTs.ICTs.

To get the basic education in our society, women To get the basic education in our society, women must be given the chance to develop and hence must be given the chance to develop and hence play the major key role which they have been play the major key role which they have been born to play as the best “Capacity Builders” born to play as the best “Capacity Builders”

It is said that “train a man, you have only trained an It is said that “train a man, you have only trained an individual; but train a woman and you are sure individual; but train a woman and you are sure that a whole nation is trained”that a whole nation is trained”

Access for rural connectivityAccess for rural connectivityTo achieve the goals of ICT to To achieve the goals of ICT to

teaching, research and teaching, research and AdministrationAdministrationconnectivity to remote rural connectivity to remote rural areas and engaging the poor areas and engaging the poor especially women to the especially women to the connectivity is deemed to be connectivity is deemed to be essential. However, the essential. However, the installation of telephone lines is installation of telephone lines is not sufficient. not sufficient. Regulatory policies to support Regulatory policies to support competition and innovation for competition and innovation for service providers, service providers, Improve Infrastructure through Improve Infrastructure through active participation by the active participation by the private sectorprivate sector

Access for rural connectivity contd..Access for rural connectivity contd..Investment in Digital Literacy and Investment in Digital Literacy and human capacity to support ICThuman capacity to support ICTPilot and mainstream social Pilot and mainstream social applications of ICT, such as e-applications of ICT, such as e-learning, e-Government, e-learning, e-Government, e-business/ e-commerce etc.business/ e-commerce etc.Involvement of develop-mental Involvement of develop-mental institutions e.g. universities to institutions e.g. universities to bridge the gap between technology bridge the gap between technology and the “poor” womenand the “poor” women

Considerations for Women ICT needsConsiderations for Women ICT needs

The technology must be located at close The technology must be located at close reach at central place for women to reach at central place for women to access such as: access such as:

- health centres- health centres - women’s employment centres- women’s employment centres - libraries- libraries - churches or mosques - churches or mosques - telecentres for women and girls - telecentres for women and girls

The kind of information produced and The kind of information produced and distributed must be women-friendly and distributed must be women-friendly and this can go through civil societies and this can go through civil societies and women NGOswomen NGOs

Nigerian High-Tech WomenNigerian High-Tech WomenHaving realized the urban-rural as well Having realized the urban-rural as well as men-women digital divide rampant in as men-women digital divide rampant in the world especially in African nations, the world especially in African nations, the NHTW NGO was set up as the the NHTW NGO was set up as the Nigerian portal to reach and empower Nigerian portal to reach and empower women in ICT. It is a sister NGO to the women in ICT. It is a sister NGO to the Ghanaian High-Tech WomenGhanaian High-Tech WomenThe objective of the NGO is to sensitize The objective of the NGO is to sensitize women about ICT not just as a means of women about ICT not just as a means of communication but also as a tool to communication but also as a tool to enhance their self-development as enhance their self-development as professionals and entrepreneurs and professionals and entrepreneurs and sustain their prosperity.sustain their prosperity.

The basic information to be provided is The basic information to be provided is in the areas of:in the areas of:

- Financial Planning- Financial Planning - Education- Education - Health- Health - Rural Development- Rural Development - Civic and Cultural Education- Civic and Cultural Education - Food and Beverage- Food and Beverage - ICT Training- ICT Training - Leadership Skills- Leadership Skills - Management Skills- Management Skills

NHTW Contd..NHTW Contd..Activities:Activities:

Organization of seminars and workshops at local Organization of seminars and workshops at local centres and or State levels for women on ICT.centres and or State levels for women on ICT.Training of girls and women on ICT and science Training of girls and women on ICT and science related courses as it applies to the individuals.related courses as it applies to the individuals.Working out a means of acquiring ICT and or Working out a means of acquiring ICT and or telecommunications infrastructure for women at telecommunications infrastructure for women at the local centres.the local centres.Opening telecentres at different points within a Opening telecentres at different points within a local Govt. and extending the same to other local Govt. and extending the same to other States at large.States at large.Setting up policy review management process for Setting up policy review management process for the established centres.the established centres.National workshops on ICT for member states so National workshops on ICT for member states so as to review what works with them and learn from as to review what works with them and learn from each other.each other.Get Sponsorship for women to attend conferences Get Sponsorship for women to attend conferences that will be beneficial to their educational and that will be beneficial to their educational and total balance as Nigerian womentotal balance as Nigerian women

Expected Outputs:Expected Outputs:Enhancing women participation in Science Enhancing women participation in Science and Technology and or ICT for economic and Technology and or ICT for economic development of their various business or development of their various business or professional endeavors, the local professional endeavors, the local community and the nation at large.community and the nation at large.Youths especially girls are encouraged to Youths especially girls are encouraged to choose and adopt sciences and technology choose and adopt sciences and technology as a course for pursuit through the as a course for pursuit through the exposures they have at the training exposures they have at the training centres and hence eradicating the gender centres and hence eradicating the gender imbalance in the ICT world of technological imbalance in the ICT world of technological advancement.advancement.The economy of the nation will not be the The economy of the nation will not be the same as poverty would have been same as poverty would have been drastically reduced.drastically reduced.

NHTW so far Contd.NHTW so far Contd.With these objectives in mind, we collaborate With these objectives in mind, we collaborate

with some government, educational and with some government, educational and private institutions who deal with ICT private institutions who deal with ICT management and training so as to assist in management and training so as to assist in training of women who are professionals and training of women who are professionals and also collaborating with local government also collaborating with local government chairpersons to be able to reach rural women. chairpersons to be able to reach rural women. e.g.e.g.National Centre for Technology Management National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) OAU, Ife(NACETEM) OAU, IfeDept. of Computer Science OAU, IfeDept. of Computer Science OAU, IfeJigawa State GovernmentJigawa State GovernmentNITDANITDACollaboration with Local Govt. AreasCollaboration with Local Govt. Areas

Women Information CentresWomen Information CentresThis is also known as telecentres, It is meant This is also known as telecentres, It is meant to serve as both information centres, about to serve as both information centres, about best practices in women businesses, e-best practices in women businesses, e-government, small and medium scale micro-government, small and medium scale micro-enterprise support, market and agric farm enterprise support, market and agric farm prices information for farmers and R&D prices information for farmers and R&D issues across the globe as well as a training issues across the globe as well as a training and business centre for women and girls.and business centre for women and girls.It is business because of funding and It is business because of funding and sustainability.sustainability.This also serve as a place for developing This also serve as a place for developing children in basic ICT skills to enhance their children in basic ICT skills to enhance their studying and career building capabilities. This studying and career building capabilities. This section is named “After School Centre” section is named “After School Centre”

Challenges of TelecentresChallenges of Telecentres

Availability of Space or landAvailability of Space or landDevelopment of local content relevant Development of local content relevant to teachingto teachingPolicy formulation on gender ICT Policy formulation on gender ICT issues by government for disclosure of issues by government for disclosure of informationinformationThe cultural barrier for women to visit The cultural barrier for women to visit public placespublic placesFundingFundingICT InfrastructuresICT InfrastructuresEnergy supply Energy supply

Challenges for partners & SponsorsChallenges for partners & Sponsors

Building relationship with women NGOs Building relationship with women NGOs is the paramount issue.is the paramount issue.

Physical presence of partners and Physical presence of partners and collaborators or sponsors will assist us in collaborators or sponsors will assist us in doing betterdoing better

Women need assurance and support, Women need assurance and support, therefore we need the confidence and therefore we need the confidence and support of the Govt. at all levelssupport of the Govt. at all levels

Each partner need to demonstrate their Each partner need to demonstrate their core competence to move the rural core competence to move the rural areas forwardsareas forwards

Our Recent ChallengesOur Recent ChallengesFUNDING is the most obviousFUNDING is the most obvious

Collaboration and sponsorship by Collaboration and sponsorship by private/public organizationsprivate/public organizations

Infrastructure and market conditions Infrastructure and market conditions need to be improvedneed to be improved

Liberalization and Govt. policies be Liberalization and Govt. policies be put in place to favour women to put in place to favour women to develop in ICT skillsdevelop in ICT skills

NHTW Visit to Ife- East LGA of Osun StateNHTW Visit to Ife- East LGA of Osun StateParticipation was quite impressive as we Participation was quite impressive as we had about 65 women and 15 men in had about 65 women and 15 men in attendanceattendanceTheir affordability of basic ICT equipments Their affordability of basic ICT equipments like GSM was poorlike GSM was poorWe encouraged them to do all they can to We encouraged them to do all they can to get the knowledge and then appreciate get the knowledge and then appreciate the better use of ICT infrastructuresthe better use of ICT infrastructuresEncouraged research and women Encouraged research and women participation in ICTparticipation in ICTCreation of AFTER SCHOOL CENTRE for Creation of AFTER SCHOOL CENTRE for children to avail the mothers the children to avail the mothers the opportunity and time to train in ICTsopportunity and time to train in ICTsEncouraged e-business through telecoms Encouraged e-business through telecoms and internet connectivityand internet connectivity

Policy issues for considerationPolicy issues for considerationDo we have the adequate applications and Do we have the adequate applications and infrastructures for ICT deployment and infrastructures for ICT deployment and what is their optimal usewhat is their optimal use

How affordable and reliable is our internet How affordable and reliable is our internet connectivityconnectivity

Do we have reliable, secure and accessible Do we have reliable, secure and accessible networks for affordable telecoms services networks for affordable telecoms services in Nigeria?in Nigeria?

To what extent are telecoms services To what extent are telecoms services being use for information sharing?being use for information sharing?

Policy issues contd..Policy issues contd..Human resource requirements and Human resource requirements and development needs for ICT in the short development needs for ICT in the short and long termand long termInformation transforming Agricultural Information transforming Agricultural productionproductionExtent of information impact on trade and Extent of information impact on trade and industryindustryLooking at how best to make ICT be the Looking at how best to make ICT be the driving force of transforming both social driving force of transforming both social and productive sectors of Nigeriansand productive sectors of NigeriansEnsuring that market women and traders Ensuring that market women and traders can use mobile phones or computers for can use mobile phones or computers for instance for information sharinginstance for information sharing

Roles women have to playRoles women have to playBe available for trainings and capacity buildingBe available for trainings and capacity buildingProfessional women given to R&D that have Professional women given to R&D that have more impacts on the society especially the girl more impacts on the society especially the girl childchildEstablishing small micro-enterprises that are Establishing small micro-enterprises that are ICT drivenICT drivenProvide fast health information and solutions Provide fast health information and solutions to the family and communityto the family and communityBuild the nations economy by eradicating Build the nations economy by eradicating poverty and be political informed and poverty and be political informed and empowered.empowered.Take a leading role in conferences, workshops Take a leading role in conferences, workshops and seminars participation.and seminars participation.

In ConclusionIn Conclusion

ICTs are still relatively not affordable to ICTs are still relatively not affordable to the developing nations like ours, hence the developing nations like ours, hence government and private institutions government and private institutions needs to arise to the need of access for needs to arise to the need of access for women’s development.women’s development.Capacity building is the key to attaining Capacity building is the key to attaining ICT skills and enablement, women can ICT skills and enablement, women can produce better results as we do in child produce better results as we do in child bearing and enhance teaching, bearing and enhance teaching, research and administrative excellenceresearch and administrative excellenceWomen have potentials!!!Women have potentials!!!

Give us the chance to maximize themGive us the chance to maximize them

To All WomenTo All Women

POWER – UPPOWER – UP

NIGERIA WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGYNIGERIA WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY

THANK YOU FOR LISTENINGTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING

For contact details:For contact details:

Wunmi : Wunmi : reachaoh@yahoo.co.ukreachaoh@yahoo.co.uk

0803424187408034241874