STRAIGHT TALK ON RADIO NIGERIA 93.5 FM ON 26TH MAR 2018 (18:30)
PRESENTER – OLUTOLA DARAMOLA
GUEST – PROF. ADEOLU AKANDE
SUMMARY OF THE INTERVIEW

OLUTOLA – To ICT, what is your stop gap assessment?

PROF. AKANDE – Many countries are using ICT in all works of life. Nigeria hasn’t been able to optimize the benefit of ICT. That was why in 2007, the FG established NITDA (Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency). Our use of ICT has been limited to calls and texts. We can enhance our national revenue through the use of ICT like, sales of software. Hardware etc.
It’s a sector we can use to improve all other sectors, Agric, Educational, Security, Health.

OLUTOLA – What are the factors the society is contributing serving as stumbling blocks for growth of ICT?

PROF. AKANDE – First of all, our schools are not making use of ICT. Some don’t even embrace it at all. Computers are very strange to our educational system. It’s a major gap and systemic.

OLUTOLA – Is it not worrisome that Nigerians are more bothered about Social Media?

PROF. AKANDE – The board on media has not been inaugurated so, there is little that can be said now. We must all know that the youths learn the use of social media on their own mostly through pair group influence. The schools should focus these youths’ energy on the educational use of ICT. We need to work on the curiosity of the youth. We don’t even have ICT parks where youths can go to, hang out and share views about ICT.

OLUTOLA – You agree that children and youths need guidance on the use of social media, What is your take?

PROF. AKANDE – When a parent doesn’t know about the internet, how do you want such parent to guide his/her child? But, now the government and some private institutions are creating institutions to fill the gap. To guide the youths and children on the use of social media.

OLUTOLA – In what way can ICT developing our revenue?

PROF. AKANDE – ICT has a great potential in developing the national revenue. It is a knowledge based economy that doesn’t require a lot of money. Look at foreign countries like USA, China etc, you can find out how much they made on sales of software alone in the past 12 months.
We can have same here, where people will sit down and find a solution to certain problems that wont require physical presence. We speak globally now through ICT.
Only 10% of those that wrote JAMB last year were admitted, this is because we still depend on physical learning and all institutions do not have enough space to admit students. Parents still want their children to go to conventional schools and we have National Open University where children don’t even want to attend as well. The society doesnt believe use of ICT is workable.
Agric sector is another major sector that ICT could really improve.

OLUTOLA – On the issue of Security, how can ICT help our security situation in the country?

PROF. AKANDE – If we must know, the use of internet/ICT was revived by the Military for the use in enhancing security. ICT was discovered primarily because, of security. Security is about prevention of crimes. The use of surveillance will really help. When surveillance is everywhere, crimes can be detected before they can be committed. Our security can always warn us where violence is taken place and make sure, citizens are warned off such places.

OLUTOLA – Election is on the way, we want it to be ICT compliant, what are the things people should be aware of?

PROF. AKANDE – ICT is basically part of every human life. In 2015, there was the use of card reader. It was an ICT innovation. That means people are aware and should be expecting more improvement on it by 2019. And by then, it would have been captured by law. Although, it may come with its own challenges but, it will certainly improve of quality of election. The use of card readers, electronic voting etc.
Almost everyone can operate a mobile phone. Our challenge is how to simplify the use of ICT for the elections so that even illiterates can use.

OLUTOLA – Nigeria is having not a very good image as regards cyber crimes. What can we do about it?

PROF. AKANDE – We need to direct the focus of our youths. ICT must be an integral part of our school curriculum. Students need to be guided on the use of ICT. Like I said, their curiosity will push them into its use but, with professional guidance, that will be focused on good use.

OLUTOLA – What atmosphere do you want to see in 2019 elections?

PROF. AKANDE – A good number of people are showing interest in politics now. That will lead to a lot of improvement in the personnel showing up for roles or even being assign roles. We can now be represented by qualified people. I have said it before, there is no problem in Nigeria that has not been solved somewhere in the world before. We all need to find out how these problems were solved.
We will be guaranteed quality leadership at different level of government.