Mejabi seeks more investment in ICT for national development

To maximise the impact and transformative potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a game changer and driver of inclusive growth, the government and other stakeholders in the country have been urged to invest heavily in digital infrastructure.

A Professor at the Department of Information Technology, University of Ilorin, Omenogo Veronica Mejabi, made the plea last Thursday (May 23, 2024) while delivering the 258th Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “Game changer of ICT” at the University Auditorium. 

According to Prof. Mejabi, that step would ensure widespread access to reliable and secure Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) services.

The Inaugural Lecturer also counseled that the initiatives aimed at promoting digital literacy should be implemented at all levels of education and across various demographics to empower individuals with the skills needed to effectively navigate and utilise ICT tools and platforms.

Prof. Mejabi further enjoined policymakers to develop and enforce ethical guidelines and regulations to govern the responsible development, deployment, and use of ICT technologies. This, according to her, would “include measures to address data privacy, cybersecurity, and algorithmic bias. ICT-related curricula and professional development programmes should incorporate ethical behaviour”.

She suggested that ICT solutions should be designed with inclusivity in mind, considering the diverse needs and capabilities of users.

“This, she said, includes designing accessible interfaces, providing multiple language options, and ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies for users with disabilities”.

Prof. Mejabi, who is the foundation Acting Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, also called on governments at all levels to invest more in cost-effective training and ICT tools required to overcome inadequate ICT infrastructure and lack of digital skills among teachers and students at all levels of education in Nigeria.

“There should be continued investment in research and development which is critical for driving ICT innovation and maintaining global competitiveness while funding should be allocated to support research initiatives in ICT that demonstrate transformative potential”, she said.

Prof. Mejabi advocated a holistic engagement of communities in the design and implementation of ICT initiatives necessary to foster a sense of ownership that will ensure that solutions are responsive to local needs and priorities, adding that community participation can also help to bridge the digital divide by addressing barriers to access and usage.

By actively involving stakeholders in the development and implementation of ICT initiatives, she added that policymakers can ensure that technological solutions align with the needs, preferences and capabilities of the intended users, and can enhance adoption rates and mitigate resistance to change.

She advised organisations to adopt sustainable ICT practices to minimise environmental impact and promote resource efficiency, pointing out that “this includes measures such as energy-efficient computing, electronic waste recycling, and responsible sourcing of materials for ICT hardware”, she said.

Prof. Mejabi, who is also a former Director of the Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT) Directorate at the University, said that researchers from Africa, particularly Nigeria, should aim to have all their publications available on the web, without violating publisher copyrights.

She also called for effective collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving ICT innovation and expanding access to technology solutions.

She said public-private partnerships can facilitate the development of ICT infrastructure, promote digital skills training, and support technology start-ups and SMEs, adding that multilateral partnerships can as well facilitate knowledge sharing, capacity building, and technology transfer, among nations.

She said that given the global nature of ICT, international cooperation and collaboration are vital for addressing cross-border challenges and harnessing the full potential of technology for sustainable development.

Describing ICT as “the backbone of the digital age”, Prof. Mejabi explained that it “improves access to information and makes human-to-human, human-to-machine, and machine-to-machine communication easier and more efficient”.

She summarised her contributions in the field of ICT into “seven broad game changing areas”, namely, “access to the global village, web-based solutions, organisational change, adoption, empowerment, open data practice, and impact on the environment”.

Prof. Mejabi said, “My contributions in the use of ICT to achieve game-changing systems in the University of Ilorin spans the period of my employment. Some of these include the introduction of computerised ID card, and applying computing and management techniques in the data processing of Post-UTME screening tests conducted with paper and pencil and later with CBT.”