Learn about nigerias challenges and achievements, and see what best practices are emerging from this. The content is being graded according to educational and appropriateness parameters. In this paper we take a look at the global digital divide. Exploring the aspects of digital divide in a developing country. White paper bridging the digital divide in nigeria collaborating to expand opportunities nigeria is one of the bright stars of subsaharan africa. The second project utilizes an adaptation of the existing technology and focuses on the content digital divide. The gap between those who have access to digital technologies and those who do not. Although buying a computer or even a smart phone is out of the reach of many lowincome people, and there are still areas of the country that can access the internet only via dialup.
Mar 08, 2017 the web foundations gender gap audit 2016, based on research conducted in 10 countries including kenya, mozambique, ghana, uganda, nigeria and egypt in africa, also raised concerns about the gender digital divide. The digital divide, or the divisions in the global information and communications technologies icts market between developed and developing countries including lower middle. This actually occurred in nigeria in 2012 as a part of its response to bridge mobile urbanrural digital divide 5. The digital divide encompasses differences in both access firstlevel digital divide and usage secondlevel digital divide of computers and the internet between 1 industrialized and developing countries global. Sep, 2010 education is the single biggest problem that may be bigger than every other problem because solving the education problem for the masses will help solve a lot of other problems because an educated population will bring progress, alleviate poverty. Indeed, the earliest itu statistics on telecommunications published in 1871, recording data on tel egraph operations since 1849 show a. Fong victoria university, melbourne, australia michelle. The digital divide is a phenomenon linked not only to the topic of access to the internet, but also to the one of usage and usage benefit. The digital divide, ict, and broadband internet ict information communications technologies. The word divide suggests a significant barrier, one on a massive scale and hard to shift as in continental divide or great divide. Beijing despite recent rises in internet use, a wide digital divide still separates rural and urban china, according to a new report.
International journal of global business, 2 1, 181204, june 2009 182 this paper outlines the challenges, opportunities and potentials in the use of ict for education, research and development in nigeria. This paper discusses the gap created by an international digital divide in africa. The very gap the country wished to arrogates through it. Yet some parts of the population are still excluded from using these new methods. Perspectives from an egovernment portal in nigeria. The four digital divides the digital divide is widely regarded as a unitary phenomenon. The private sector can help close the digital divide. But public investment and involvement will be necessary to reap the digital dividends. How to stop the digital divide that is happening in nigeria. However, for the sake of this current study, emphasis would be on digital divide existing between urban and rural settlers, in respect of their accessibility to information in today digital age.
Towards bridging the digital divide in postapartheid. The nigerian digital divide signifies the disparity among individuals who. Bridging the digital divide in nigeria white paper supported by the intel world ahead program, nigeria is moving to bridge the digital divide and increase opportunities for jobs, education and participation in the global economy. The evolution of the digital divide the digital divide turns to inequality of skills and usage jan a. The main aim of this paper is to explore the digital divide in a developing country, turkey, and to highlight some approaches to bridge it. The digital divide encompasses differences in both access firstlevel digital divide and usage secondlevel digital divide of computers and the internet between 1. The paper focuses on bridging the digital divide that exists between the developed countries and africa. Show full abstract income countries, tends to line up with the income divide. In dollar terms, africas igdp is estimated at usd 18. South africa started the development of a local telecommunications industry in 1958.
The paper focuses on bridging the digital divide that exists between the. Digital inclusion and sustainable development in nigeria. Facebook, for example, recently announced plans to use landbased and satellite technologies to provide better internet access to african countries. Digital divide other links a framework for digital. The digital divide in south africa is real michalsons. Introduction equitable access to information is an essential principle in a global information economy. Public expenditure on the internet including digitization of education and health services currently amounts to only usd 2 billion. Agreeably, the digital divide phenomenon pervades in every activity associated with the provision of library and information services in nigerian libraries. The survey report on internet development in rural china 2009, published by the china internet network information center last month april, is the fourth such annual report. In this paper we take a look at the global digital divide concerning africa, we analyze the situation with the help of macrodata and by. Digital divide, term that describes the uneven distribution of information and communication technologies icts in society. Digital divide is the gap that currently exists in the quality of access to icts between the. What is the digital divide, and what implications for society and the individual are seen to arise from this.
The term digital divide refers to the widening gap between those with access to technology and those without. Nigerias digital divide refers to the inequality of nigerian individuals, groups, or organizations with regards to access to information and communications technology ict infrastructure or to the internet for municipal use within the nigerian community. Fairlie university of california, santa cruz prepared for adoption of ict enabled information systems for agricultural development workshop tokyo, japan august 24, 2008. Profiles of innovators and leaders who make a difference pdf. Despite a rather successful state policy for some two decades, the old state policies can no longer keep up with new designs of digital equipment.
In 2012, as part of its response to mobile digital divide. Are some benefiting from a digital economy, while others are left behind or on the sidelines. The findings also revealed that the digital divide exposed nigerians to the dangers of youth restiveness. The global digital divide and the effects of technology. The continents most populous country, nigeria has rich oil reserves, a growing middle class, a young democracy and a youthful population. Separate one page or a whole set for easy conversion into independent pdf files. Initially, concern over the digital divide centered on access to computers cost and the internet availability. Nigeria is the most populous country in africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. Digital divide is a term that refers to the gap between demographics and regions that have access to modern information and communications technology, and those that dont or have restricted access. Illiteracy rates for young men and women are also very high in the rural and urban settlements. Ramification of the digital divide in south africa and its consequences. Nigeria s youth population has also been significantly affected by the digital divide.
List of books and articles about digital divide online. Digital divide other links a framework for digital divide. That gap, the new digital divide, puts at risk much more than just online shopping revenue. The authors outlined measures needed to address the digital divide problem in nigerian libraries. Clearly, the metaphor of a digital divide that became very popular in the last years of the 1990s in the united states, with comparable designations in other languages and other countries, is a simplification of the phenomenon of inequality of access to digital technologies. Well before the late 20th century, digital divide referred chiefly to the division between those with and without telephone access. Digital divide can be described as the information technology gap between developing and developed countries. Pdf the global nature of information and communications technology ict provides developing countries with a unique opportunity to compete in a. Committee on technology in government, new york city council. Education is the single biggest problem that may be bigger than every other problem because solving the education problem for the masses will help solve a lot of other problems because an educated population will bring progress, alleviate poverty. Digital divide and afghanistan muhammad aimal marjan the digital divide and its impact on the socioeconomic developmental outcomes of developing countries has in the last couple of years been a key development agenda at major international fora.
Nigerias digital divide refers to the inequality of nigerian individuals, groups, or organizations with regards to access to information and communications. Digital divide is emphasized much on digital divide issues of hard work, technical infrastructure and connectivity loom large but these are not the only dimension of the digital divide. Impact of the digital divide on computer use and internet. Digital divide ict information communications technology. How to stop the digital divide that is happening in. The digital divide, or the digital split, is a social issue referring to the differing amount of information between those who have access to the internet specially broadband access and those who do not have access.
Digital skills for all 2 digital inclusion as a provider of the infrastructure for the digital age, huawei believes that as ict applications become easier to use, more convenient, and more affordable, they will greatly reduce global inequality, bridge the digital divide, and drive the rapid attainment of sdgs. The digital divide and what to do about it eszter hargittai papersateszterdotcom sociology department princeton university this is a preprint version of the book chapter to appear in the new. Expanding digital opportunity in new york city public schools. Improving internet access in the developing world through affordable services and diverse content by darrell m. The issue has sparked a major debate, with former president bill cinton calling it the chasm between the information haves and havenots. The impact of digital divide on elearning in nigeria journal of. This paper reports on a masters study undertaken to explore whether the electronic services initiated in postapartheid south africa by university of the western cape uwc library are perceived by primary stakeholders users and library staff as effective in bridging the digital divide. A holistic look at information poverty and the regions digital divide. Digital inclusion network, an online exchange on topics related to the digital divide and digital inclusion.
Internet usage, poverty, lack of computer skills, and poor infrastructures were contributors to the digital divide. Bridging the digital divide in the eu summary digital technologies play an important role in the everyday life of most europeans. What is the digital divide, and what implications for society. In this paper we take a look at the global digital divide concerning africa, we analyze the situation with the help of macrodata and by discussing specific examples ghana, south africa. The digital divide can be understood as inequalities in four successive types of access. A study of internet use in calabar metropolis, nigeria purpose the paper aims to. The global digital divide and the effects of technology use. This project is currently being used globally with 152 officially participating schools in 27 countries plus registrations from about 80 countries.
The term digital divide refers to the disparity in terms of access that has emerged. The content digital divide computers in entertainment. Clearly, this gap is different in nature from the standard notion of digital divide that describes socioeconomic differences based on access to information technologies. What is the digital divide, and what implications for. Digital inclusion digital inclusion is a set of public policies that relates to the installation, administration, expansion, creation and development of content on wired or wireless public networks in countries, regions and communities.
The web foundations gender gap audit 2016, based on research conducted in 10 countries including kenya, mozambique, ghana, uganda, nigeria and egypt in africa, also raised concerns about the gender digital divide. Digital divide is emphasized much on digital divide issues of hard work, technical infrastructure and connectivity loom large but these are not the only dimension of. This technology can include the telephone, television, personal computers and the internet. Instability has risen among the nigerian youth as they are overwhelmed by the capabilities and power of icts.
A refined understanding of the digital divide that emphasizes. Digital inclusion and the role of mobile in nigeria. Turning africas digital divide into digital dividends. The evolution of the digital divide universiteit twente. Digital divide in south africa free download as powerpoint presentation.
As used here, the term digital divide refers to the gap between individuals, households, businesses and geographic areas at different socioeconomic levels with regard both to their opportunities to access information and communication technologies icts. Jul 31, 2007 read bridging the digital divide in nigeria. Many proposals are currently being discussed within the government and the telecommunications industry itself for future development. Failure to take urgent action to close the digital divide and to use resources dedicated specifically to doing so will further widen the gulf between the digital haves and the digital havenots, undermining economic growth and stunting global development in the process. Some have argued that the digital divide is not a useful concept from an analytical perspective. Nevertheless, for retailers, it poses a serious threat to overall. The global digital divide and the effects of technology use on educational outcomes robert w. Exploring digital divide in mobile phone ownership. Request pdf bridging the digital divide in nigeria.