MDGs Can Be Achieved Through ICT – Ministera

The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, says ICT and open source solutions can be used to achieve some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

The minister said this while declaring open the 5th African Free and Open Source Software and Digital Commons (IDLELO 5) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Johnson said that the conference was to facilitate the exchange of ideas on Africa’s technology development.

She said that the theme of the conference: “Open Source Relations for Achieving Millennium Development Goals”, is therefore absolutely apt and reflective of the power of ICTs in development.

“As you all know, there are eight MDGs that must be achieved by 2015. Of course if you look at these MDGs, you’ll know that many of them can only achieved through the use of ICT and open source solutions.

“I speak of open solutions that would deliver e-learning applications; that would facilitate the digitisation and storage of research materials; that would support agricultural applications that provide information to rural farmers and cultivation practices, pest and disease management, access to market prices.

“Healthcare applications that would collect an anticipatory data and records, track disease and epidemic outbreaks, to name a few.”

She said that all the applications would contribute significantly to the achievement of MDGs.

“I am particularly pleased to hear there are many young people joining us over the internet and some of you are present here in this auditorium, as it is your passion for technology. I will ensure that Africa is able to take its rightful place in the knowledge economy.’’

She also said that the ministry was beginning to see a vibrant software development industry in Nigeria and also in the West of Africa, adding that the young people were leading the charge.

“Made in Nigeria software is really beginning to gain some global respect with the number of young software developers becoming software entrepreneurs, who can develop software and sell this software over the internet.”

Johnson said that the ministry would facilitate the growth of the industry through the establishment of ICT incubation centres.

She explained that the centres would provide market research, testing facilities, and advisory support to translate ideas for software applications based on open source software.