An investigation of the impact of information and communication technologies                 in sub-Saharan Africa

Adam, Lishan; Wood, Frances

doi:10.1177/016555159902500407

Cited by 56 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The unimpressive picture of IT exploitation in the Nigerian public sector appears to follow the general pattern in sub-Saharan Africa, as observed by Adam and Wood in a recent article [22]. However, it is clear that Nigerian public agencies must devote a much greater attention to modern information processing systems than previously if they are not to constitute a serious impediment to national socio-economic growth and development in the third millennium.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Information technology in Nigerian federal agencies: problems, impact and strategies

Tiamiyu

2000

Journal of Information Science

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The paper assesses the perceptions of personnel of Nigerian federal public agencies about obstacles to information technology (IT) use, the impact of computers on agency departments and tasks and about approaches to IT human resource development. The analyses are based on data from a questionnaire survey of the personnel of ministries, parastatals and Government-controlled banks who participated in various training programmes of the (Nigerian) National Centre for Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA) during 1997. The survey revealed that due to either lack of computing technologies in most of the agencies or of their ineffective exploitation, the majority of the personnel were, as recently as 1997, still unaware of, or unimpressed by, the productivity potentials of using computers in their agencies. However, they were eager for exposure to computer applications in their work. They also preferred informal and work-related training formats which, in their view, should most appropriately begin with middle-level personnel in the agencies. These and other perceptions suggest that most Nigerian public agencies are in the pre-computing, or very early, stages of the computing culture, hence their focus was more on understanding how to use computers to perform traditional and internal data processing chores than on providing strategic and client-targeted services. 50 1 2

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Information technology in Nigerian federal agencies: problems, impact and strategies

Tiamiyu

2000

Journal of Information Science

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“…lack of private sector involvement (i.e. ICT manufacturers and operators) in designing ICTs suitable for poor countries (Adam and Wood, 1999;APF, 2008); 48 CWIS 31,1 . lack of human resource capacity which limits the ICT implementation (Adam and Wood, 1999;Raji et al, 2006;Farrell et al, 2007);…”

Section: Solar Electricity Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar electricity generation: issues of development and impact on ICT implementation in Africa

Uhomoibhi

Damasen

2013

Campus-Wide Information Systems

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Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss, in-depth, how solar electricity can be developed and used to tackle grid electricity-related problems in African countries suffering from unreliable and inadequate grid electricity. Design/methodology/approach -The paper discusses in depth the current status of grid electricity in Africa continent and suggested solar electricity as an alternative cost-effective method to the existing grid electricity problem in remote areas. An extensive analysis of the major contribution of solar electricity in various sectors such as economic, health, communication, social and environmental benefits is provided. The paper concludes with a discussion on how solar power generation can be developed. Findings -The paper shows that in developed countries where ICT has been applied extensively, ICT offers increased opportunities for sustainable economic development and plays a critical role in rapid economic growth, productive capacity improvements, education, government, agriculture and international competitiveness enhancement. The paper has pointed out that ICT has yet to make significant impact in most African countries due to lack of reliable and adequate electricity. Solar electricity has been seen as the most cost-effective way of generating electricity, especially in remote rural areas, for ICT devices. For the widespread of solar power generation in Africa, various strategies have been identified which include training of qualified solar engineers and technicians, establishing PV markets and business modes, introduction of solar energy education in schools and universities, political leaders appreciating solar electricity as one of the major energy component, lowering initial cost of the PV technology, availability of finance mechanisms for rural communities, import tax exemption and African countries regarding rural electricity as one of the basic needs.Practical implications -The paper shows that the problems of lack of qualified solar technicians and established PV markets and business modes (especially in remote areas), lack of solar energy education in schools have to be addressed before the benefits of ICT in Africa can be seen. Other issues include African countries appreciating solar electricity as one of the major energy component, lowering initial cost of the PV technology, availability of finance mechanisms for customers, import tax exemption and African countries regarding rural electricity as one of the basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. Overhaul of existing systems needs to take place in order to provide the means to deal with some of these issues. Originality/value -Availability of reliable electrical energy remains crucial for development of ICT in rural African countries. Solar electricity is clearly one of the most promising prospects to the grid electricity problem in African countries because most African countries lie in the sunshine belt. The paper raises awareness about this in a unique way and suggests some novel measures about in...

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“…The study also outlines the structural and functional difficulties that need to be resolved around the area of using computers in education for nurses and midwifes. Adam and Wood (2006), in their study of the utilization of ICTs in African libraries, established among other factors the problem of lack of IL to determine the level of integration of IL within its academic programs. It was revealed that most of the students were ill-equipped with the requisite IL skills such as ability to find, identify, locate, review, select, and apply information needed for their studies and in the work environment; they had difficulties in using the relevant tools to locate information and knowledge; and had difficulties in critically evaluating, analyzing, and examining the information coming their way.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does information technology affect the level of information literacy?

Isfandyari‐Moghaddam

Kashi‐Nahanji

2011

Aslib Proceedings

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Purpose -The paper's aim is to study the role of information technology (IT) in the information literacy (IL) of high school students in Hamedan (Iran) through a comparative investigation into the IL skills of students of ordinary and intelligent high schools. An intelligent school refers to a school in which students make use of information technologies in education and have a lesson on "methods of research" and an ordinary school refers to a school in which students do not have any access to information technologies and have no lessons on "methods of research". Design/methodology/approach -The method used was experimental research with post-test-only control group design. The research population consisted of 364 male and female high school students at 17 years of age in two groups of test and control in two kinds of ordinary and intelligent high schools. A questionnaire was used and it was completed by students on the basis of test and control group. Findings -The results showed that the IL level was low among all students. The overall IL mean was 260. The IL mean was higher in intelligent schools (226.05) than in ordinary schools (161.18). Practical implications -In order to improve the IL level of students, it is recommended that schools give mandatory lessons related to research methods and IL to students. Training courses also should be offered to teachers in order to increase their knowledge of IL and their skills for teaching IL to students. Originality/value -The findings of this research can contribute to the field of IL especially at pre-university level.

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An investigation of the impact of information and communication technologies in sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 56 publications

References 12 publications

Information technology in Nigerian federal agencies: problems, impact and strategies

Information technology in Nigerian federal agencies: problems, impact and strategies

Solar electricity generation: issues of development and impact on ICT implementation in Africa

Does information technology affect the level of information literacy?

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