Title: Demystify and Deploy
1DemystifyandDeploy
- Deploying ICTs for Maximum Youth Development and
Participation
Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos
Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative
Nigeria www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com
International Youth Forum 2005. Youngstars
Foundation, Jos, Nigeria. June 22-24, 2005
2Demystifying ICTs
- Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) The means of generating, processing,
transporting and presenting information - Old ICTs Town crier, print/electronic media in
the past, etc - New ICTs
- Information Technology
- Computers Data processing/number crunching
- Telecommunications
- Telephones, fax, satellite, TV Plain Old
Telephone System (POTS) - Networks
- Internet, data, satellite, cell Pretty Amazing
New Services (PANS) - ICTs Convergence of Communications, computers,
consumer electronics, content - Convergence at the level of technology all is
in bits (binary digits) industry policy
regulation advocacy and multi-stakeholder
participation
3ICTs and the E-conomy
- The Information Age is revealing a complex
convergence that seeks to create a new society
driven by ICTs - The Information Society embraces a
multi-stakeholder approach, bringing governments,
businesses, civil society (media, academia, NGOs)
and SIGs (e.g. youth) together - Every profession is repositioning for improved
relevance in the new Information Society from
Accounting (New Accounting) to Agriculture
(Precision Agriculture), and Computing
(Information Sciences) too! - This new paradigm is also shifting educational
standards from what you have (certificate) to
what you know (expertise). Nations are not left
out - Africas response to the New Economy is
responsible for our present situation, made worse
by corruption and lack of adequate leadership - The E-conomy respects global citizens, not local
champions
4Watch IT!
- The need to understand and apply ICTs is not a
passing fad - The ongoing digitization of life, work and play
reveals the need for each person to be
comfortable with ICTs - JAMB results, WAEC registration, job applications
(P. O. Box ? eMail ? online) reveal the trend - ICTs provide opportunities for Personal
Development self-paced learning, eLearning, web
search and digital libraries - Events, activities, initiatives and projects now
reach out faster through ICTs SMS alerts,
eMail, eNewsletters / Webzines, websites and
blogs - Your organisations URL is your new identity
- Domain names are cheaper or free
- .ng is free, and patriotic (http//ngcctld.nitda.g
ov.ng) - Hosting prices are crashing! I started with free
hosting - www.kekhost.com hosts www.gbengasesan.com
- If you know what you want, design is cheaper
5Netiquettes
- Owing to many factors cost, convenience, time,
etc communication has moved online - Chat, eMail and the web are three of the most
popular communication channels. Its even cheaper
to Skype than to make N 10 per minute calls! - Communication, like human conversation, has
unwritten codes referred to as etiquettes (and
good manners) - When communicating through the web (e.g. applying
through careers.company.com) - Ensure that you complete compulsory spaces and
backup entries to prevent any loss - Be sure you upload files in requested format and
size - Young people spend more time in chatrooms than
elsewhere - If its a friendly chat, understand the unwritten
rules and use smileys - If in a meeting, read more than you type. Keep
relevant document windows open and avoid repeated
quick glances at unrelated work
6Netiquettes (Focus on eMail)
- eMail appears to have no strict rules, but unlike
SMS theres not so much room for errors or
excuses such as length of text - In most cases, your eMail precedes your
reputation. People may judge you by your eMail
messages ? - Subject Never skip subjects, keep it short and
relevant. Your subject must give a great idea of
what the eMail will convey - Content Say enough to convey the entire message
but dont bore/scare the recipient - To, Cc, Bcc Dont post to too many addresses in
one eMail. Feel free to send in batches and note
that bcc is often dumped in trash folders. Make
sure important addresses are visible - All CAPS Never use all caps emails, its rude and
is mostly used by scammers - Errors Read through your eMails to avoid obvious
errors - Multiple posts Prevent multiple posts, use your
Sent folder - If need be, take your work offline by using eMail
software
7Opportunities dont knock
- ICTs provide amazing opportunities and young
people (we have the advantage of growing with
technology eg cell phones) must exploit them - Some specific opportunities are listed below
- RESEARCH
- Explore the worlds largest pool of knowledge
and data. The internet provides amazing search
opportunities wider than your imagination - EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
- Stay in touch without stress, remember
birthdays. eMail, chat, SMS Skypes free VoIP
calls, GMails 2GB of space, etc - TRANSGENERATIONAL IMPACT
- Leave a legacy, contribute to global web
content. Your personal website can help inspire
another young person. Or create a profile page on
TIG - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Maximize internet opportunities. MITs Open
Courseware is one example of diverse high-end
educational opportunities - NATION BUILDING/REGIONAL COOPERATION
- Mount the ICT for Development stage, act your
scene we have but this one life to live. Ask not
of what your nation can do for you - GLOBAL PARTICIPATION AND RELEVANCE
- Theres no better tool for global collaboration.
Be omnipresent
8THANK YOU
- Deploying ICTs for Maximum Youth Development and
Participation
Gbenga Sesan Program Manager / Team Leader Lagos
Digital Village / Paradigm Initiative
Nigeria www.gbengasesan.com me_at_gbengasesan.com
International Youth Forum 2005. Youngstars
Foundation, Jos, Nigeria. June 22-24, 2005