ICT 4 Life Kwara State ICT & Youth Seminar. Ilorin, Nigeria. June 16, 2005 Maximizing ICT Opportunities in Life, Work and Play Gbenga Sesan | Program Manager/Team Leader Lagos Digital Village/Paradigm Initiative Nigeria

ICTs: A Fine Thread… Information and Communication Technologies: A fine thread that runs through life, work and play Living has become more dependent on ICTs. From food to clothing and shelter, the need to become familiar with ICTs gets more obvious – e.g. SMS Careers are being redefined by ICTs. Check to be sure youre still relevant – From Agriculture to Zoology Entertainment and leisure have changed! From downloading your favourite music to booking your next trip online, ICTs are becoming central As each succeeding generations become more comfortable with emerging technologies, the bar – of life, work and play – keep going higher

LIFE Gets More Interesting From night vigils and night clubs to night browsing, life gradually moves towards the future 2005: Hes using hands free while driving; 1990: Somethings wrong with that man! JAMB Exam, 1994: Check your results at the JAM office; JAMB Exam, 2005: Check your results online SSCE, 1994: Fill the form and submit your passport photographs on time; SSCE/NECO, 2005: Go to WAEC Online, buy scratch cards for your registration Many of us grew up seeing cassette players, television sets, video players and (later) CD players – but now, you have one gadget that does everything (and more) ICTs have brought convergence, change and class!

What Exactly Do You Do? Students and workers now work better with online tools, and overcome the barriers of time and distance If the library has no new books, log on to ocw.mit.edu, ology.amnh.org, etc Information Technology has dug into the fabric of every profession… From precision agriculture to fashion information management, each career is responding to the challenges of the New Economy You must identify where IT meets your career. Which areas involve information – its management, manipulation or dissemination Its the age of multidisciplinary paths that define new roles and responsibilities Careers that dont bend to the New Economy will break away from relevance – e.g. personal secretaries

Your Merging Circles Win, Lose/Lose CareerME JANME Win/Win or No Deal No relationship with my career. Im preparing for the rat race. Nothing really matters either we both win or lose both ways I have a relationship with my career. I want to win but maybe the present rat race wins over me. I will get a monthly salary anyway... Beyond studying for a career, I like what I do. Well, it makes me happy for now and gives me some sort of fulfilment. We should both win Beyond loving what I do, my personal career vision maches with my present preparations. Im frank with myself, so its either a Win/win or no deal at all ME Win/Lose, Lose/Win Career ME Win/Win Career

Work Hard, Play Hard Chances are that your dad relaxes with his mobile phone – playing games, taking fun pictures, etc When next you get home, your mood will decide which music plays as you open the door Convergence and integration will soon replace your TV, CD/DVD player, mobile phone, music device, data storage device, car lock, master key and remote control with one single device – your wrist watch Each successive generation is getting more comfortable with what previous generations saw as high-tech. Cant you sense the trend? The eFridge and VR-TV are no miracles. Dont bother about ordering, and run into the field when he scores!

THANK YOU Kwara State ICT & Youth Seminar. Ilorin, Nigeria. June 16, 2005 Gbenga Sesan | Program Manager/Team Leader Lagos Digital Village/Paradigm Initiative Nigeria