Youth

1
Youth ICTs Challenges and Opportunities for
the Nigerian Youth

• Gbenga Sesan
• Program Manager / Team Leader
• Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative
  Nigeria
• www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com

Kwara State ICT Youth Seminar. Ilorin, Nigeria.
June 16, 2005
2
The Nigerian Youth

• The United Nations General Assembly defined
  youth, as those persons falling between the
  ages of 15 and 24 years inclusive. This
  definition was made for International Youth Year,
  held around the world in 1985
• -- www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/qanda.htm
• Member States are encouraged to establish
  official definitions of youth that can be
  consistently applied across all national
  policies, programmes and agencies. These
  definitions should be based on the social,
  cultural and economic context of each society
• -- Strategic Framework for NEPAD Youth Programme
• The Nigerian youth is a Nigerian. He must not
  only consider what his parents or the community
  can do for him but must consider what we can do
  for our nation
• The Nigerian Youth is under-equipped schools
  curricula, laboratories, teaching aids,
  educational system, etc
• but most young Nigerians have proved that we
  are smart despite the poor exposure
• Misdirected smartness is folly wearing an overall
  with Self Deceit written on it stay away from
  smartness that can disgrace you or eliminate
  your enviable future

3
A New Economy

• The Information Age is revealing a complex
  convergence that seeks to create a new society
  driven by information, communication and
  technologies -- and an evident shrinking of space
  and dissolution of physical boundaries
• 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. Natural resources no longer dictate whos in
  charge -- Human and Intellectual Capital decide
• Africas response to the New Economy is
  responsible for our present situation, made worse
  by corruption and lack of adequate leadership
• The New Economy respects global citizens, not
  local champions

4
ICTs 101 A Quick Introduction

• 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

5
ICT Opportunities

• ICTs provide amazing opportunities and young
  people have the advantage of growing with
  technology e.g. cell phones
• 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

6
Just before you shut down

• Many of you have been to a good number of
  conferences this year alone. But what do you make
  of what you pick up? Make up your mind to put to
  use, the nuggets that you will identify in these
  3 sessions
• You must settle the issue of career choice before
  you step into tomorrow and that begins from the
  very next moment. You are not too young/old to
  start
• If your goals in life only exist in your head,
  and they only come up during discussions, you are
  only day-dreaming. Get a pen and write down your
  goals (Dont forget your pen and paper,
  especially for the last session In Your Hands)
• According to the principle of common good, those
  who seek to make impact within their community
  always end up improving themselves
• ICTs provide amazing opportunities to manage your
  planning process search for information on your
  direction, send emails to mentors, organize with
  your mobile phone/laptop

7
THANK YOU

• Gbenga Sesan
• Program Manager / Team Leader
• Lagos Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative
  Nigeria
• www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com

Kwara State ICT Youth Seminar. Ilorin, Nigeria.
June 16, 2005