1. Generation and Dissemination of Local Content Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Sustainable Development. By Dr. R. E. Ozioko Uzoamaka Igwesi Helen N. Eke

2. Abstract The paper presents the report of a project carried out in the South Eastern Nigeria on the generation and dissemination of local content from the area using Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The project was undertaken by a group of researchers to capture, preserve and disseminate some cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge that are possessed by local people and especially the elderly ones and which is trying to go into extinct because the carriers of these information and knowledge are fast dying away. The researchers adopted a survey design for the study and four areas of the people’s cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge was randomly sampled for the study. Oral interview and observation were the instruments used to generate data for the study. The data generated was qualitatively analyzed and described. The researchers found four striking cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge of the people such as traditional medicine, crafts, attire, music, and festival. It was strongly recommended that for the people’s cultural heritage to continue to survive, such precious heritage should be jealously preserved and disseminated for sustainable development. Keywords: generation, dissemination, local content, ICT, sustainable development.

3. Introduction Globally, there has been an increasing emphasis on the local content generation. The need for local content development is quite crucial for sustainable national development. Locally generated content are hardly visible at the Global Information Network (GIN). Local content is the totality of the culture, values, heritage materials and indigenous knowledge of a group of people with common interest in a given locality. Local content is referred to what a community creates, owns or adapts in terms of knowledge (Ballantyne, 2002).

4. Introduction Contd… It is a vital platform for local people to express, share and communicate locally relevant knowledge on the issues that affect their lives. The potentials of local content development are quite indispensable to sustainable national development as it is crucial in bridging the digital divide through empowering the people to link and communicate with the rest of the world.

5. Introduction contd… The creation and dissemination of local content reflecting the values, heritage, experience of local communities and culture is imperative for the preservation of cultural diversity. The overall objective of local content development is to promote knowledge creation, preservation, dissemination and utilization of locally generated knowledge.

6. ICTs and Generation of Local Content provision of opportunity to digitize analogue materials for simultaneous, unlimited and remote access. Facilitation of process of generation,storage,and dissemination Our local content and heritage resources, when digitized could be uploaded on the internet for global access. Local content when exchanged and shared via the electronic or digital media could be called e- content.

7. Challenges of Local Content Development Some of the reasons for lack of local content as noted by Khan, (2007) include: Limited financial resources of developing countries for content production; Inappropriate training opportunities for content creators; Lack of access to advanced technology (production units, digital cameras, digital studios); Low motivation and commitment at the decision-making level to change the situation; Market forces, which do not encourage diversity.

8. Purpose of the Study Overall Purpose: generation and dissemination of local content using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for sustainable development Specific Purpose: To capture, preserve and disseminate some cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge possessed by local people in the South Eastern Nigeria.

9. Methodology Design: Survey Population: young people (youth) and the elderly men and women living in the local areas in the study area. States: Enugu, Anambra, Abia were randomly selected for the study Instruments: Oral Interview and Observation Method of data collection: The researchers visited the states more than 3 times for the purpose of capturing data for the study. The observation was captured with a camera, or video camera The data generated was qualitatively analyzed and described.

10. Results The researchers were able to identify the following cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge of the local people as follows: Pottery work in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra state. Bone Setting Traditional adornment among the Igbos. Omabe Festival

11. Pottery work in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra state. Procedure: (1.) Preparation stage (2)Heating or smelting stage (3) Pouring Stage (4) Dismantling stage (5) Finishing stage

12. Bone Setting Materials used: (1)herbs, including tree leaves and root, which is cut into pieces and added to local gin and taken half gin glass twice daily. (2) Bandage (3)Locally made Plaster of Paris (POP)

13. Traditional adornment among the Igbos. Materials Used: wrapper, beads, “nzu” (local powder), anklets, bangles,, lipsticks, lip gloss, powder, and eye penwrist beadscil. Stages involved: hair fixing in different styles, wearing of wrapper, application of local powder,wearing of beads, body painting,

14. Omabe Festival The festival is an annual event and lasts for 4 months. Important features: -parade of different types of masquerades

15. ICT Use in Capturing, Storing and Disseminating Local Content. Tape recorder was used in recording the interview held with the resource persons Digital video camera was used to capture and record the processes involved in pottery work, bone setting, traditional adornment and masquerade festival. These ICT facilities could be used in the process of production, storage, and dissemination of Local Content to remote places.

16. Conclusion The potentials of local content development are quite indispensable to sustainable national development. Harnessing local content helps to increase the sense of pride and value to our local languages, cultural heritage and indigenous practices. In this line, this project research has been able to identify four striking cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge of the local people of the south east Nigeria. These cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge have been captured and stored using ICT facilities. These cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge of the people as packaged using the ICT facilities could be disseminated to any part of the world thereby making visible the local content of the people. It is because these cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge are gradually going into extinct that motivated the project research and it is aimed at capturing, storing and disseminating them with the use of ICT facilities

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