INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL FOR CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is a broader term for Information Technology (IT), which refers to all communication technologies, including the internet, wireless networks, cell phones, computers, software, middleware, video-conferencing, social networking, and other media applications and services enabling users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate information in a digital form. ICTs are also used to refer to the convergence of media technology such as audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks, by means of a unified system of cabling (including signal distribution and management) or link system. However, there is no universally accepted definition of ICTs considering that the concepts, methods and tools involved in ICTs are steadily evolving on an almost daily basis (FAO, 2021).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a major tool for gaining competitive advantage in the corporate world and as such has been integrated into the operations of most high performing organizations in every economy. A recent policy note released by the World Bank says that information and communication technologies (ICTs) are transforming the world of work, creating new job opportunities and making labour markets more innovative, inclusive, and global. ICTs are influencing employment both as an industry that creates jobs and as a tool that empowers workers to access new forms of work, in new and more flexible ways (Samuelson, 2008). The emerging ICT-enabled employment opportunities matter because countries around the world are looking to create more good jobs, which have positive economic and social implications for workers and for society. ICT is critical to Nigeria’s quest to becoming one of the leading economies in the next five years, as spelt out in the Vision 20:2020 agenda. The world is increasingly becoming technology-driven, and ICTs remain a key driver of any economy, as it has the potential to address the rising unemployment trend in the country.

In a recent report published by the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, it revealed that the ICT sector had boosted the Federal Government’s job creation efforts by creating over 12 million jobs in the past two years. It described this current contribution as an improvement on the job opportunities created by the sector between 2002 and 2012. The ICT sector in Nigeria is currently boosting the federal government’s effort in job creation with the creation on an average of about 12 million jobs from 2012 to date, that is, a significant improvement on the 2.5 million jobs the sector created between 2002 and 2012. This is in addition to contributing about nine percent to the growth of Nigeria’s GDP.

The Ministry of Labour and Productivity in Nigeria says the Federal Government is set to declare total war on unemployment and joblessness in the country with the use of ICT systems and operations which is aimed at training unemployed Nigerians. Fakiyesi (2010), opine that despite the exploitation of negative aspect of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by a few Nigerian youths, ICT has raised the economy of the nation, especially the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 1.62 per cent (Oluleye, 2006).

Although he lamented that apart from the improvement on the economy, ICT has also enhanced falsehood, dissemination of harmful information as well as fraudulent activities in the transaction of businesses. Being without a job is indeed an enforced idleness of wage earners who are able and enthusiastic to work but cannot find jobs. In societies in which most people can earn a living only by working for others, being unable to find a job is a serious problem. Because of its human costs in deprivation and a feeling of rejection and personal failure, the extent of unemployment is widely used as a measure of workers' welfare. The proportion of workers unemployed also shows how well a nation's human resources are used and serves as an index of economic movement (positive or negative) (Ramey, 2008).

Unemployment has call for a greater concern in the Nigeria economy. It has continued to be the major macroeconomic objectives of the government. Unemployment constitutes a series of serious developmental problems and is increasingly more serious all over Nigeria. The major policy of the government and the international agencies is targeted at reducing the rate of unemployment.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Information and Communication Technology as a Tool for Creating Job Opportunities.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

According to a Nigerian Communications Commission, one million "indirect jobs" have been created by the mobile telephony sector in the past five years (Ramey, 2008). "This figure indicates that mobile telephony could boost job creation and poverty alleviation if the conditions that would stimulate its spin-offs are introduced and nurtured in a consistent manner." About 10,000 "direct jobs," or people employed by the mobile phone operators in Nigeria, have been created by the industry.

ICT has also created employment in the area of mass media and entertainment, blogging, graphic design and word processing etc. however, this study is examining ICT use as a tool for creating job opportunities in Nigeria. Despite the fundamental and principle role of the central bank as the controller of the monetary policies of the country, yet a lot of interviewing variables have stopped in making it difficult for economic principles to operate in the Nigerian financial system.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to evaluate the Information and Communication Technology as a Tool for Creating Job Opportunities in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine if Information communication and technology (ICT) can be used as a tool for creating job opportunities in Nigeria.
2. To identify various types of jobs that can be created with the use of Information communication and technology (ICT).
3. To identify the detrimental effect of Information communication and technology (ICT) use on Nigerian youths.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Can Information communication and technology (ICT) be used as a tool for creating job opportunities in Nigeria?
• What are the various types of jobs that can be created with the use of Information communication and technology (ICT) in Nigeria?
• What are the detrimental effects of Information communication and technology (ICT) use on Nigerian youths?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

• H0: Information communication and technology (ICT) cannot be used as a tool for creating job opportunities in Nigeria
• H1: Information communication and technology (ICT) can be used as a tool for creating job opportunities in Nigeria

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1.7 Significance of Study

The following are the significance of this study:

1. Outcome of this study will be a useful guide for the general public especially Nigerian teaming unemployed youths on how they can tap into the advent of Information communication and technology (ICT) for the purpose of creating self employment.
2. This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic

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1.8 Scope of Study

This study focuses on the Information and Communication Technology as a Tool for Creating Job Opportunities in Nigeria. It will cover various sub sections of ICT that youths can take advantage of to be self employed.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Information: this is defined as a processed data.

Communication: the impacting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium.

Technology: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.

Information communication technology (ICT): information and communications technology - or technologies is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.