Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Economic Development in Nigeria

Nigeria has been hard hit with poverty and crisis leading to an immense effect on the quality of social, cultural and political lives of the citizenry. This in a number of ways has led to a slow economic developmental growth of a nation that is adjudged the giant of the continent. The role played by ICT in supporting economic development may be considered as an alternative path to economic development in Nigeria. Economic drivers of most developed and developing nations are believed to be anchored on their population growth, GDP per capita, inflation rate and most importantly ICT. This study examines the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and digital economic development in Nigeria. Considering the fact that, Nigeria as a nation has so many qualified ICT personnel, ICT based training institutions and ICT based industries which is enough to form a backbone of an economy that is ICT driven. This study, therefore, seeks to provide analysis of the ICT revolution, challenges of ICT in Nigeria, and some of the strategies for achieving ICT as a tool for economic development in Nigeria which include; establishing ICT academies, establishing software development centers, making internet accessible and affordable, among others. It also discusses a brief history of Nigeria Economy. It employs secondary data sources in achieving this objective. The study proffers recommendations that the Federal Government of Nigeria can adopt to enhance ICT in Nigeria for its economic development which include enhanced funding and the development of an ICT masterplan for the Nigerian State.