Rural access to IT nearly zero – Expert

According to him, access of rural population to IT is 1.5 per cent as at 2012.He disclosed that it would only move to “insignificant” 10 per cent by 2015, if much effort was not put in place to bridge the divide between urban and rural areas as most Nigerians live in rural areas.Uwadia said this […]

According to him, access of rural population to IT is 1.5 per cent as at 2012.
He disclosed that it would only move to “insignificant” 10 per cent by 2015, if much effort was not put in place to bridge the divide between urban and rural areas as most Nigerians live in rural areas.
Uwadia said this at the weekend in Ilorin during the first induction of computer graduates of University of Ilorin organised by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).
He appealed to stakeholders to support and monitor implementation of policies geared towards development of Information Technology in rural areas.
The expert noted that the ratio in the country was about 22 computers to 1000 people and five internet access points to 1000 people.
He said: “Rural Nigeria is the last frontiers that require a well articulated IT intervention to transform its landscape.  Current national efforts at promoting and improving cassava and other food crops production can be boosted with the help of IT as it can facilitate communication faster and better”.
Uwadia lamented the exorbitant internet tariffs in the country, saying it was among the highest in the world.