Nigeria Internet Group

Internet for Jobs Initiative - I4J

The Concept, The Goal, The Strategies

Bankole Olubamise,Pastor, City of Life Church, Lekki

Information Management Consultant

& Chair, I4J Committee, NIG

Internet for Jobs Initiative - I4J The Internet since 1994 has become probably the greatest

invention of the 20th Century and probably will be the sole determinant of the progress of human history, business and development in the 21st century. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft in his books: The Road Ahead and Business at the Speed of Thought made allusion to the fact that the future of business is on the internet. In fact, other commentators have predicted that the developing countries of the future are those who come late to the information revolution. Unfortunately, recent statistics has placed Africa at less than 5% of internet traffic in all measurable indices. This scenario has further deepened the digital divide and further exacerbates the poverty of the continent. The question is how can we use the Internet to leapfrog the development chasm?

This initiative seeks to answer this question in the affirmative.

World Internet Statistics

WORLD INTERNET USAGE AND POPULATION STATISTICS

World RegionsPopulation( 2006 Est.)

Population% of World

Internet-Usage,Latest Data

%Population( Penetration )

Usage% of World

Usage Growth2000-2005

Africa 915,210,928 14.1 % 23,649,000 2.6 % 2.3 % 423.9 %

Asia 3,667,774,066 56.4 % 380,400,713 10.4 % 36.5 % 232.8 %

Europe 807,289,020 12.4 % 294,101,844 36.4 % 28.2 % 179.8 %

Middle East 190,084,161 2.9 % 18,203,500 9.6 % 1.7 % 454.2 %

North America 331,473,276 5.1 % 227,470,713 68.6 % 21.8 % 110.4 %

Latin America/Caribbean 553,908,632 8.5 % 79,962,809 14.7 % 7.8 % 350.5 %

Oceania / Australia 33,956,977 0.5 % 17,872,707 52.6 % 1.7 % 134.6 %

WORLD TOTAL 6,499,697,060 100.0 % 1,043,104,886 16.0 % 100.0 % 189.0 %

NOTES: (1) Internet Usage and World Population Statistics were updated for June 30, 2006. (2) CLICK on each world region for detailed regional information. (3) Demographic (Population) numbers are based on data contained in the world-gazetteer website. (4) Internet usage information comes from data published by Nielsen//NetRatings, by the International Telecommunications Union, by local NICs, and other other reliable sources. (5) For definitions, disclaimer, and navigation help, see the Site Surfing Guide. (6) Information from this site may be cited, giving due credit and establishing an active link back to www.internetworldstats.com. ©Copyright 2006, Miniwatts Marketing Group. All rights reserved.

Human Capital Development In developing Africa’s Internet growth strategies, it is important

that the necessary human capital are available and mobilizable to accomplish the strategies. Whilst Africa is investing heavily in infrastructural development, very little investment is going into the development of human capital. The obvious absence of African content on the internet is a testimony to this lack of foresight. It is this great lacuna that the Internet for Jobs Initiative aims to address especially for Nigeria. It is our firm believe that except Nigeria explores the use of Internet to build human capital and create jobs using appropriate technology, it would be difficult to become a global economy within the vision of the knowledge age.

1.1 The Vision

To use the internet as a platform for creating a critical mass of job opportunities for Nigerians and creating Nigerian netreprenuers as positive contributor to the emergent knowledge economy.

To make Nigeria a preferred destination for the global Internet related services including outsourcing Web Application Development, e-Commerce and Software development.

Partners NIG will be working closely with some government agencies and

Ministries, and international agencies to promote Nigeria as a destination of choice for the global outsourced ICT Services and to influence the various governments in Nigeria to embrace and deepen their use of information technology as a means of creating jobs and business opportunities for the graduating trainees.

Particularly, NIG hope to work very closely with the Ministry of External Affairs who will be expected to use the Nigeria Missions abroad to promote and market globally the services of the Nigeria ICT Start up companies particularly the call centres that are capable of generating million of jobs for Nigeria.

Partners NCC, NITDA, and SMEDAN will be engaged to promote the use

of Information Technology with Government, particularly the need for every government agencies to set up and regularly update their websites and the need to adopt modern information technology such as work-flow, CRM, document management in the running of government affairs-developing e-government platforms. This will not only make government service delivery efficient and effective, but create numerous jobs and business opportunities for Nigerians that will be participating in the Nigeria Internet Group Internet for jobs initiative.

We intend to collaborate closely with the Private sector as sponsors and beneficiaries of this project.

We also intend to seek the assistance of friendly international organizations like UNECA/WSIS in promoting Nigeria in the global outsourcing ICT Market.

2.0 Modus Operandi

Call for Proposals/Ideas Review of Proposals Award of Grants Registering Service Companies

Internet for job creation

Interested participants shall be asked to post their CV on NIG website. Interview shall be conducted for short listed participants and qualified participants shall be selected. Participants can opt for any of the two categories of the Initiative.

Internet for job creation

A good number of participants of the Internet for jobs initiatives may like to start their own enterprises. NIG will support such participants by identifying possible source of financing and by creating market for their services through constant campaign to Government, Private Sector Operators and Multilateral/Bilateral Aid organizations on the need to deepen the use of Internet technology in their organizations.

3.0 FUNDING

The quality of training required to bring participants to World Class standard, which will enable them to compete globally, requires high standard content, facilities and resource persons. This implies high cost, which may not be affordable to participants many of whom will be unemployed graduates.

Thus we need to seek funding from organizations that share our vision of turning Nigeria into an ICT hub and put to productive use the intellectual capacity of Nigerians many of which are presently roaming the street or doing yahoo business.

4.0 PARTNERS

To achieve our set goals, NIG will have to partners with various organizations, which will play some specific roles. The partners are classified thus:

A. Sponsors (Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories) These organizations will contribute financial and material

supports towards the accomplishment of the set goals. We can brand sponsored candidates in the name of the sponsors- e.g. Zenith Bank Entrepreneur;

B. Facilitating organizations.

These organizations will facilitate the training. They will provide the required facilities and possibly resource persons. Some of the criteria to be used in selecting the facilitating organizations will be Providing mentorship/incubation assistance in

establishing their own ICT enterprises. Providing Backup support.

Sponsorship / Partnership

C. Supporting Partners These are organizations that may not necessarily

contribute financially, but may assist in some other forms in achieving the set goals.

D. Endorsing Partners These are organizations with tremendous credibility

and integrity that shares the vision of the program and will like to identify with the program without necessarily contributing financially.

Sponsorship/Partnership E. Individual / Corporate Investors A Company can decided to partner with entreprenuers by directly

investing such ideas which might support their own services. We can give companies a right of first refusal.

6.0 PERFOMANCE METRICS

As a means of measuring performance in the implementation of the program, a number of quantitative yardsticks have been identified. Performance of the program will be benchmarked periodically against these yardsticks. Report of such measurements and general impact of the program on the socio-economic development of Nigeria shall be submitted at intervals to the partners, NIG members, the Government, and the public.

Benchmarks in the first year:

National coverage in at lest two-thirds of the states of the federation i.e. 24 states.

Public awareness of the scheme through the receipt of over 10,000 applications for participation.

Media coverage of the scheme through 50 articles in various news-media.

Registration of over 50 partner organizations. Endorsement of two-thirds of the IT Stakeholder community

especially government, its agencies and private sector operators.

What Next?

We kindly appeal to well meaning Nigerian and International organizations to support the emergence internet multimillionaires by investing and support this initiative.

We believe the future of the country rest squarely on how far we can take advantage of the global knowledge economy using the internet.

The time to start is now.

Thank you for your kind attention

8.0 ABOUT THE NIGERIA INTERNET GROUP Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) was formed in March 1995 with an objective to promote the

Internet in Nigeria. The measured success of Internet penetration in Nigeria today can be directly or indirectly linked to the campaigns of NIG at the early stage of Internet in Nigeria. Having focused on the promotion of Internet access in Nigeria in the first ten years of NIG formation and with a degree of success, NIG is now directing its energy and resources to the application of Internet, particularly as a tool for jobs creation.

NIG has the privilege of having been led by very distinguished Nigerians from inception. These include: Engr. Johnson Asinugo, a distinguished Engineer.

Engr O. C. Iromantu, the pioneer Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

Dr. Nnama, former Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, the incumbent Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Mr. Jim Ovia, The Managing Director/CEO of Zenith International Bank, the fourth largest

bank in Nigeria. Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, a distinguished scholar and a MPON awardee The Chairman of the Board of Trustees from inception is a highly respected former Minister of

Communication of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Engr. Olawale Ige, MFR. The current President, Engr. Lanre Ajayi is one of the first ISP’s in Africa and former Vice Chairman of the Africa Internet Service Providers Association (AfrISPA). He is committed to using the Internet as a platform for the Nigeria Socio-Economic renaissance.

Contact address: The President Nigeria Internet Group 7, Olayinka Bamgbose Street, Off Toyin

Street, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: 234-1-8504062; E-mail: nig@nig.org.ng

Website: www.nig.org.ng