Nigerian University Students Grapple with High Internet Cost among Other Concerns
Nigerian University Students Grapple with High Internet Cost among Other Concerns
Mowa Ijasanmi is a southwest Nigerian university student. He spends up to #18,000 ($50) a month on internet access. He spends his time online participating in virtual meetings, watching or uploading lecture recordings, and chatting with others. The high rate of data in Nigeria is just one of the numerous difficulties faced by Nigerian students like Mowa.
High Cost of Internet
Nigerian students and youths are among the most avid users of internet services, especially those in the information technology field. According to a recent study of 85 countries, Nigeria has one of the highest internet access prices globally and in Africa. Nigeria was ranked 81st out of 85 countries in the 2020 digital quality of life index.
To boost the condition of the internet in Nigeria, the government announced last year that it would aim to achieve 70% broadband penetration in four years and digitize government processes to increase transparency and service delivery speed. With internet penetration nearing 50% in Nigeria, accomplishing this feat appears to be low-hanging fruit.
Investing in Infrastructure for Technology
The Federal Government of Nigeria commissioned the Robotics and National Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Abuja in November 2020 as part of its efforts to provide technology infrastructure. According to reports, the center will feature a 3D printer, training facilities, a digital innovation lab, and a co-working room for startups, among other amenities.
The construction of a National ICT Park, expected to cost N8.1Billion ($23.4M), was approved in February 2021.
These recent ventures raise the question of why so much money is being spent on buildings while a sizable portion of the country's population continues to struggle with digital illiteracy.
It's worth debating whether these projects sound good on paper but have little to no effect. How many people can use these facilities?
Improving Digital Literacy
The Nigerian government has also set a goal of achieving 95% digital literacy in ten years. I concur that this is a necessary step forward and one of the prerequisites for a digital economy, but what steps are being taken to accomplish this goal?
With a population of more than 200 million, we cannot deny that Nigeria is in desperate need of digital literacy infrastructure and communication policy change.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), housed within the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economic, recently announced a State-based Digital Literacy and Skills Program. It is an excellent creation, but the question is who will benefit from the initiative, as only 540 youths per state and a total of 20,000 youths across the 36 states of the federation are expected to benefit. Just 20,000 youths out of a total of over 100 million in the country are just too small.
One approach is to identify and mobilize local players and stakeholders to assume responsibility. It will allow this program to reach a broader audience.
Creating An Enabling Environment for Technology Startups
The tech startup scene in Nigeria and Africa as a whole has shown great potential, as evidenced by the success stories of Paystack, Flutterwave, and Interswitch. A sizable portion of Africa's $1.3 billion venture capital investment went to Nigerian-based firms. It's costly to run a technology startup.
The cost of technological gadgets is increasing – smartphones, tablets, laptops, and Internet of Things devices, to name a few. If the government could step up its effort to reduce the startup costs associated with operating a technology startup, it will be very beneficial. Grants and alliances with critical service providers such as Amazon Web Service will be helpful.
In conclusion, the government can do a great deal to foster an enabling atmosphere for Nigerian students; these are just a few examples.
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