Demystify and Deploy

1
DemystifyandDeploy

• Deploying ICTs for Maximum Youth Development and
  Participation

Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos
Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative
Nigeria www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com
International Youth Forum 2005. Youngstars
Foundation, Jos, Nigeria. June 22-24, 2005
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Demystifying ICTs

• Information and Communication Technologies
  (ICTs) The means of generating, processing,
  transporting and presenting information
• Old ICTs Town crier, print/electronic media in
  the past, etc
• New ICTs
• Information Technology
• Computers Data processing/number crunching
• Telecommunications
• Telephones, fax, satellite, TV Plain Old
  Telephone System (POTS)
• Networks
• Internet, data, satellite, cell Pretty Amazing
  New Services (PANS)
• ICTs Convergence of Communications, computers,
  consumer electronics, content
• Convergence at the level of technology all is
  in bits (binary digits) industry policy
  regulation advocacy and multi-stakeholder
  participation

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ICTs and the E-conomy

• The Information Age is revealing a complex
  convergence that seeks to create a new society
  driven by ICTs
• The Information Society embraces a
  multi-stakeholder approach, bringing governments,
  businesses, civil society (media, academia, NGOs)
  and SIGs (e.g. youth) together
• Every profession is repositioning for improved
  relevance in the new Information Society from
  Accounting (New Accounting) to Agriculture
  (Precision Agriculture), and Computing
  (Information Sciences) too!
• This new paradigm is also shifting educational
  standards from what you have (certificate) to
  what you know (expertise). Nations are not left
  out
• Africas response to the New Economy is
  responsible for our present situation, made worse
  by corruption and lack of adequate leadership
• The E-conomy respects global citizens, not local
  champions

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Watch IT!

• The need to understand and apply ICTs is not a
  passing fad
• The ongoing digitization of life, work and play
  reveals the need for each person to be
  comfortable with ICTs
• JAMB results, WAEC registration, job applications
  (P. O. Box ? eMail ? online) reveal the trend
• ICTs provide opportunities for Personal
  Development self-paced learning, eLearning, web
  search and digital libraries
• Events, activities, initiatives and projects now
  reach out faster through ICTs SMS alerts,
  eMail, eNewsletters / Webzines, websites and
  blogs
• Your organisations URL is your new identity
• Domain names are cheaper or free
• .ng is free, and patriotic (http//ngcctld.nitda.g
  ov.ng)
• Hosting prices are crashing! I started with free
  hosting
• www.kekhost.com hosts www.gbengasesan.com
• If you know what you want, design is cheaper

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Netiquettes

• Owing to many factors cost, convenience, time,
  etc communication has moved online
• Chat, eMail and the web are three of the most
  popular communication channels. Its even cheaper
  to Skype than to make N 10 per minute calls!
• Communication, like human conversation, has
  unwritten codes referred to as etiquettes (and
  good manners)
• When communicating through the web (e.g. applying
  through careers.company.com)
• Ensure that you complete compulsory spaces and
  backup entries to prevent any loss
• Be sure you upload files in requested format and
  size
• Young people spend more time in chatrooms than
  elsewhere
• If its a friendly chat, understand the unwritten
  rules and use smileys
• If in a meeting, read more than you type. Keep
  relevant document windows open and avoid repeated
  quick glances at unrelated work

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Netiquettes (Focus on eMail)

• eMail appears to have no strict rules, but unlike
  SMS theres not so much room for errors or
  excuses such as length of text
• In most cases, your eMail precedes your
  reputation. People may judge you by your eMail
  messages ?
• Subject Never skip subjects, keep it short and
  relevant. Your subject must give a great idea of
  what the eMail will convey
• Content Say enough to convey the entire message
  but dont bore/scare the recipient
• To, Cc, Bcc Dont post to too many addresses in
  one eMail. Feel free to send in batches and note
  that bcc is often dumped in trash folders. Make
  sure important addresses are visible
• All CAPS Never use all caps emails, its rude and
  is mostly used by scammers
• Errors Read through your eMails to avoid obvious
  errors
• Multiple posts Prevent multiple posts, use your
  Sent folder
• If need be, take your work offline by using eMail
  software

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Opportunities dont knock

• ICTs provide amazing opportunities and young
  people (we have the advantage of growing with
  technology eg cell phones) must exploit them
• Some specific opportunities are listed below
• RESEARCH
• Explore the worlds largest pool of knowledge
  and data. The internet provides amazing search
  opportunities wider than your imagination
• EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
• Stay in touch without stress, remember
  birthdays. eMail, chat, SMS Skypes free VoIP
  calls, GMails 2GB of space, etc
• TRANSGENERATIONAL IMPACT
• Leave a legacy, contribute to global web
  content. Your personal website can help inspire
  another young person. Or create a profile page on
  TIG
• PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Maximize internet opportunities. MITs Open
  Courseware is one example of diverse high-end
  educational opportunities
• NATION BUILDING/REGIONAL COOPERATION
• Mount the ICT for Development stage, act your
  scene we have but this one life to live. Ask not
  of what your nation can do for you
• GLOBAL PARTICIPATION AND RELEVANCE
• Theres no better tool for global collaboration.
  Be omnipresent

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THANK YOU

• Deploying ICTs for Maximum Youth Development and
  Participation

Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos
Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative
Nigeria www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com
International Youth Forum 2005. Youngstars
Foundation, Jos, Nigeria. June 22-24, 2005