Broadband essential technology for the information age

Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Chairman of Open Media, tells Clifford Agugoesi that the purpose of Nigeria’s Presidential Committee on Strategy and Roadmap for Broadband is to achieve digital inclusion for all Nigerians
Africa Telecom & IT: What are the essential elements of Open Media, of which you are the Chairman?
Ernest Ndukwe: Generally, what I have done is to set up a multi-faceted consulting outfit, largely to act in an advisory capacity and do a bit of research and studies on contemporary issues in the ICT industry. At Open Media, we pick and choose what we do. Because of the experience-base that is there; we are able to attract good clients in terms of those who want to do business in our environment or those who want information that will be useful in their taking decisions.
I also teach Strategy and Leadership part-time at the Lagos Business School where we have set up the Centre for Infrastructure Policy, Regulation and Advancement. The idea is to emphasise the importance of infrastructure. This time we are not just talking about ICT infrastructure, but infrastructure generally, because, when we are taking about new cities, new nations, progress, economic development, infrastructure plays a very pivotal role in achieving this issue. So a focused attention for it in an educational and research-based environment will enable papers to be churned out, governments to have a source of researched information and scholarly papers that will enable it take the right decisions in respect of infrastructure development.
AT & IT: You are Co-Chairman for the Nigerian Presidential Commission on Broadband Roadmap. What is its mandate?
EN: I am privileged to have been appointed to co-chair the Commission. My responsibility would largely be to guide it into coming out with an all-embracing Broadband Roadmap for the country. As you know, broadband is a very essential technology for the information age, and even the more advanced countries, despite their endowment in ICT facilities, have still found it necessary to come out with strategies for ensuring pervasive broadband networks in their countries. So, for us in Nigeria, it is even much more important, because, despite what we have achieved in the voice area, we have so much to do in data and broadband internet.
The President and the Minister of Communications Technology decided that broadband was that important to deserve a focused attention and that is what that committee is to do. At the end of the day, we will look at what exists in the country in terms of infrastructure and set targets for achieving universal coverage of broadband in Nigeria. To belong to the knowledge age in the world today, data communications is critical. It has got its appeal in nearly everything that we do today, whether you are talking about social media, about e-government, about various applications that ride on the internet, it becomes extremely important that we have this facility available to everyone.
I think the emphasis is on what is popularly called Digital Inclusion for All today. That we should make sure that every Nigerian has access to this vital tool of the modern age. That’s what the President is trying to achieve by this Strategy and Roadmap. So, our task basically is to plan how this would be done with specific deliverables and specific target times for achieving those deliverables and to make sure that all parts of the country are covered and everyone is within reach of broadband coverage.
AT & IT: Giving the configuration in the Commission are you optimistic you will deliver on your mandate in time?
EN: Oh, yes. As I said earlier, I am actually privileged to be heading such a team of very well selected members. The membership spans representatives of operating companies and some other private sector interest groups and governments. I have every confidence in the set up of the Commission. I have no doubt that whatever we come out with will be generally acceptable to most Nigerians.
AT & IT: How long were you given to present your report?
EN: Three months. We will give it our best shot. There is no doubt that there is a lot of work to be done. It is also true that many people in the committee are busy people, but they have committed to devote the time that is required to make sure that this assignment is completed in good time. If for any reason we need to extend the time, we will let the authorities know. But we are aiming at keeping to that time frame.
AT & IT: Does your committee have an implementing mandate?
EN: No. We just come up with. It will be left to government to mobilise players, because, in the roadmap, I suspect that we will also have clear responsibilities for different people. It will incorporate the responsibilities of the various arms of government in leading the move to ensure widespread availability of broadband facilities. It is not just about having the infrastructure. There should also be a move towards how we get the right content that will make sure that people use the facilities and to find them useful to be able to be part of the knowledge economy of today. I also suspect that there will be a section in that plan that will include the education of people on the use of broadband and also look at issues like safe and responsible use of internet and broadband in the country, especially with particular emphasis on our children and some vulnerable groups in the society. So, I think it will be that all encompassing, in terms of plan and responsibilities of various players and the implementing part of it will be left to the government. I guess that once leaders are sufficiently sold into it, they will champion it, because, it is for the good of the people, whether at the local, state or federal level. Because it is something good for mankind, for the citizenry, they will make sure that the Roadmap is executed properly.
AT & IT: Which countries would you be looking to for examples as you carry out your mandate?
EN: Of course, the advantage of us coming at this time is that we will be able to look at what other people have done, and learn from their mistakes. This means that, perhaps, what we will come out with will be a refined version of whatever had happened in other parts of the world. At least 10 different countries have come up with broadband plans. So we will look at these and take whatever is useful. No two countries are the same, so we have to come up with something that is good for Nigeria.
AT & IT: You made a presentation at the just concluded Women in Technology in Nigeria conference on child development. How would you summarise your intervention at that event?
EN: My presentation largely was aimed at exciting people about the importance of ICT in national and everyday life and also the strides that have been made so far. I also talked about the fact that there are still a lot of things to be done for the future. And also, that while we are celebrating what has happened and anticipating what needs to be done in the future we should spare a thought for the safe use of the internet, especially where children are concerned. I also emphasised that ICTs should be available to everybody, irrespective of social class, physical location or gender.