Punch Newspaper: ICT and global knowledge economy, prospects and challenges for Nigeria (II) [ICT Clinic Page]

This is a continuation of last week’s piece that is focused on helping Nigerians and her leaders understand the importance of preparing for the knowledge economy (boom) that has already started.

I clearly recall the statement made by Mrs. Omobola Johnson, the Minister of Communications Technology at the 2013 ISPON conference: “…the world is moving rapidly into a knowledge-based economy and Nigeria is placed in a position where it can capitalise on the lessons learned from the industrial age while positioning itself to be a force in the knowledge age.”

While I share and to a large extent agree with her optimism, I am afraid if other arms of government are indeed ready. For me, hopping into the knowledge economy goes beyond the efforts of a single ministry; it has to be a lot more holistic.

Our current educational system has not significantly engaged the immediate challenges enough to adequately proffer viable knowledge-based solutions on such a scale that would give us unique competitive advantage in this era of globalisation – a disturbing disconnect between the ivory towers, the students themselves, and then of course policy formulators.

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