Can an average Nigerian afford a PC?
I was reading Gradiose Parlour’s blog today and I came upon a very interesting post titled “Computer For All Nigerians Initiative“, whilst reading, I had a flash back on a recent discussion, I had with Tim Akinbo over it, and how we actually exchange our views, on the various issues, that has been, the main obstacle to its lack in penetration in general.
The issue of computer wide spread usage that is penetration, in general, is questionable, and thus I cannot help but ask the following questions.
A. Can an average Nigerian citizen, afford a desktop computer?
B. Does an average Nigerian understand, what he could use a computer for, apart from the internet usage and Word processing, besides programming and graphical designs?
C. Would the “Computer for All Nigerians Initiative”, be beneficial to the average Nigerian?
D. Does an average Nigerian really need a computer at home?
A lot of Nigerians tend to think the main obstacle to the penetration of computers in Nigeria, (which is at an
embarrassing ratio of 7 computers to 1000 people) is actually related to the inability of the average Nigerian to afford it, which would be believed to be automatically due to our current GDP, but in reality it is not so. Nigerians internal economy and
cash flow circulation, within the average Nigerian does not have any direct relation with our current GDP. The GDP might have a say, but no impact on the earnings or the livelihood. If I am wrong, please correct me.
Now after saying that, am I saying the average Nigerian can afford a computer? Well I cant really conclude to that, but I would use a basis of comparison rather. A good object of reference would be the penetration of “GSM TECHNOLOGY” in Nigeria. I recently read a
PowerPoint slide presentation titled “THREE YEARS OF GSM REVOLUTION IN NIGERIA” by By Ernest C. Ndukwe, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The Statistics in that presentation was.
STATISTICAL INDICATORS IN THE YEAR 2005
|
|
Dec-00 |
Dec-02 |
Jun-03 |
Dec-03 |
Mar-04 |
|
Number of Connected Fixed Lines |
450,000 |
702,000 |
724,790 |
850,000 |
888,854 |
|
Number of Connected Digital Mobile Lines |
None |
1.6m |
2.05m |
3.1m |
3.8m |
|
Number of National Carriers as at the year 2005 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Number of Operating ISPs |
18 |
30 |
30 |
35 |
35 |
|
Number of Active Licensed Fixed Line Operators |
9 |
16 |
19 |
30 |
30 |
|
Number of Licensed Mobile Operators |
1 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
And besides this statistics of mobile users, is even an underestimation. This is because currently only MTN (one of the mobile service providers) boasts of a whooping 2,587,000 subscribers in Nigeria, where each subscriber, spends an average of 54 USD a month, that is an average of 7000 Naira a month. Please forgive my deviation, and allow me to prove a point here. This average revenue per user for the same Telco in other of its market is really low, it ARPU (Average revenue per user) is $22 in Cameroon, $33 in Uganda, $27 in Rwanda, and $22 in Swaziland !!
Now how much does an average phone cost in Nigeria? An average phone cost 55USD, besides Nigerians are fond of using expensive phones. I have friends with phones worth as much as 200USD, yet they do not have a computer. Well I guess we all have our priorities.
How much does a computer, with a specification of Pentium III, 128MB ram, 700MHZ, 20GB hardisk, onboard sound card and onboard graphic card cost? A friend said, it would cost
an approximated 179 USD and a monitor would cost approximately 62-82 USD. Now that is in Nigeria !!, so are we saying the average Nigerian cannot afford to buy a desktop computer? Think again, the issue now goes to my second question labeled B. .
Does an average Nigerian understand, what he could use a computer for, apart from internet use and Word processing, besides programming and graphical designs?
I really do not think so. The problem at hand, really is Education. People are not aware of what a computer can be simply used for. Have we tried to educate the masses? Maybe some NGOs might claim they have tried, and are still trying . But are they really doing what they should do?, besides do they target the right audience? If I go on asking questions, I wouldn’t really achieve at anything, because honestly if we tend to look at the issue, at stake, we would realise that the issue with the penetration of computers, in Nigeria, really goes back to the question? Is the average Nigerian, a Computer literate? if affirmative, How educated? What type of education?
Besides that, I really find it interesting when a Nigerian based computer literate start raising issues on the electricity regularity dilemma (for goodness sake, dont they buy televisions at home?), besides also saying outrageous things like, what would I use the pc for, If not for business or internet use? Does it go not go beyound that? Is that what a computer can only be used for? This is really shocking, wrong knowledge, total myopic enclavement (forgive me for my wordings).
What happened to its primary usage? It is an Educational tool, for goodness sake, I can even include entertainment !!. How do we make use of it to learn without an internet? Good question.
I wouldnt go on listing down, as if I am giving a lecture, but I would try to answer it in a lovely way. I can use a computer to read e-books that is books in electronic format. Books that are readily available in CD-ROMS, or can be provided or sold at cheaper affordable rates, if they are not currently in the market. E-books are very cheap in comparison to normal physical books, even upto 60-80% cheaper in relation to the physical books.
What about interactive learning softwares that teach you how to do things like cookery, poultry , programming etc? What about softwares that help you prepare for exams.
As an entertainment tool, you can keep a huge record of musics on your hard-disk, play computer games, have lan parties in your neighbourhood or at a friends house , besides to name a few. I mean the usage of computers is way too many for me to list down, it just doesnt boil down to the internet? And yes if it is internet, you can build a server in your neighbourhood or hostels that connect to just one internet infrastructure and save a lot on bandwidth using caches etc. I mean thats not even needed if you cant avoid it, but in reality the larger the number of users, the cheaper internet would be in Nigeria.
Besides there are internet cafes for you to research download into a flashdisk and come home plug it in and you are done.
Now how many NGOs educate the masses for free with all this examples, or how many NGOs try to provide special affordable configurations to the masses so that the average Nigerian can have a pc at home at reduced price? Trust me seminars or even talks just end up in the same circle. The same participants keep on coming and coming. And do we call that awareness? To me they are already awared, and it is a total wastage of time. How about door to door evangelism in educated neighbourhoods? Distributing affordable flyer computer specifications besides also hosting regular public promotions on awareness etc? There is always an easy way, if honest, reliable work wants to be done. There are always many ideas that can always be incorporated.
Yes the average Nigerian, can afford an average specification pc, and no the government should not fund such schemes like “Computer for All Nigerians Initiative”, they should spend their funds and allocations on creating a better infrastructure and solving poverty rather. This is because never in history has an average Nigerian benefited directly from any scheme targetted to the masses, and thus it can be concluded, that such scheme, would meet the same fate of its predecessors.
Oo wait a minute, what happened to the University Students in Nigeria. How many have personal computers?
Disclaimer: This is just a mere opinion and does not justify any
legal fact. The average Nigerian as mentioned in this post is the educated
middle class level of Nigeria. Please note that.
Using the computer is not really on the high priority list of nigerians, Phones are more of a priority
As they say charity begins at home, first of all why dont we start from the educational institutions, let them get more invloved in the use of computers.
Its shocking, how very ignorant people with “computer science” degrees, are about computers. A Graduate with a degree in computer engineering can tell you that he/she has seen a computer like 3 or 4 times. They dont know the inner workings of computer physically but theoretically they can quote it. Its a shame
Not only the computer graduates/students, all other students studying various degrees, have a lab set up where the students dont have to pay (that is why most of us are computer illiterate) to use the computer for school work, interact find out what is happening in the world, be more aware of their surroundings and society etc. But i dont think they are ready to do that one.
There are internet cafe’s on the campuses, but you have to pay to use it.
As you said you can say a lot on this topic and there will be no end.
Comment by Nneka — 11/29/2005 @ 11:52 pm
If every average Nigerian can get a PC in their homes the level of ICT awareness and development would have skyrocketed by now.
Yesterday i was reading how the Egyptian govt. gave all their workers PC and laptops by making deducting the money from their salary. Today Egypt is more on the ICT lanscape than Nigeria.
If Nigerians can buy PCs the same way they have been buying mobile phones, they would have gain tremendously from it’s benefits.
But one of the major obstacle militating against the widespread adoption of PCs in a typical Nigerian home is electricity supply. If power supply is more stable PC awareness will surely become widesepread.
Comment by joftech — 11/30/2005 @ 2:03 am
I agree that the only way to get Nigerians more tuned into the technology is through the education system. The education system is where the flaw lies. Teachers/lecturers are barely paid, then we talk about having computers in the lab. The numbers will not add up. Ok so it is the same agreement every time.
Mobile phones caught on because Nigerians were fed up with NITEL and then it became an essential item. With regards to electricity, a few folks might end up worrying about the possible damage to the PC due to continual fluctuation in electricity supply.
Comment by Remi — 11/30/2005 @ 10:55 am
I’d like to share my story briefly here. I finished Secondary in 1995 and my mumsie forced me into attending a Computer School. You can imagine how I felt then! It was as if I was being punished for a sin I didnt commit but today the impact of that initial push is enormous. Yeah, it is true that our priorities differ and that determine what we spend our money on. I dont want to believe that it is the issue of erratic power supply that is not making people to buy Computer Systems. It is all about what matters to us most.
On the issue of training, the NGOs we have around are doing their part. I dont know if most of us know about Lagos Digital Village – www.lagosdigitalvillage.org.ng. The focus of the centre is to equip Nigerian Youths with the basic ICT skills. I have volunteered on several occassions at the centre but the turnover is not encouraging. I saw many old people attending the course than youths. The focus of an average youth is basically how to look good and impress his/her peers. Africans dont like learning. We so much love comfort that we can do everything to remain in our comfort zone irrespective of what we might be loosing.
So, how many of us really want to learn? All we are concerned with is the GAIN we will get now. We dont want to make sacrifice today for tomorrow. That explains why the few that know little about what the computer can do literarily use it for YAHOO YAHOO!. I must tell you that going for knowledge today is a sacrifice on some of our part. I can remember locking myself up in the Internet Room of my department (when most of my colleagues were already on their bed asleep) in 1999 just to read some articles and what some of the foreign universities have on their websites. LIke Kayode said, the use of the computer cant be quantified and only few know about this.
The starting point… Our family. Let’s forget about the whole nation for now. Nigeria is too large for us to handle. Start by ensuring that your family members really understand the impact of Computer. You might need to paint a picture of what they have been loosing since they dont embrace this tool. Beyond this, go out of your way to enrol your brother and sister in computer course(s). You will not mind the cost of this as it will definitely be your SEED into their future. I believe if we all embrace this attitude, Nigeria will be better for it.
The time is now to ACT but we have to start from our immediate family. Leave what the government has not done; forget about what the NGO is not doing and let’s focus on what we can do with our family…
Comment by Emmanuel — 11/30/2005 @ 3:23 pm
Good question and good analysis, I believe we will get to that point where computers will be available in every home, its just a matter of time. 2 years ago, the awareness of computer was not as high as we have now, infact you see young boyz doing all sort of horrible things in the cafes, trust Nigerians all they learn are the vices of any available technology, bet we got it from the asians. In like 3 years ago, most of the pirated CD’s we have in Nigeria are gotten from Malaysia and some of the asian countries, but today Nigerians are doing all these. Well those are the bad sides which some of the anti crime networks in Nigeria are fighting.
The annoying part of this whole computer thing is the dumping of scraps in Nigeria, system as old as 486 and 386 are still available in the market today, its sad and annoying…but you still see people going for such system all in the name of “Cheap”. Any way, kay, you did a good research and I can assure you that nigeria will attain to that height. We will get there.
Comment by wisdomseun — 12/1/2005 @ 12:14 am
All your points are valid.
But, computer literacy does not depend on the affordability of a PC.
But on the availability and accessibility.
Genevieve Nnaji e-mails me from her mobile phone and if the average Nigerian can afford a mobile phone, then he or she can afford a PC, from the palmtop to the laptop or desktop.
Computer centres are all over the towns and cities in Nigeria. And most churches in Nigeria have computer literacy classes. The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) promotes computer literacy in all the parishes.
Nigerians love computers and GSM phones. But, they prefer GSM phones, because they are “Walkie-Talkies” they can carry along anywhere they go. And once they know that there are GSM phones they can use as PCs, they will go for them once they become very popular.
Millions of Nigerians already know that you can watch movies and play music on PCs. And once they know that they can watch their favourite TV programmes from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), AIT, Channels and other TV stations on the PC, they will prefer PCs to TV sets.
I know some Nigerians with giant TV sets they paid hundreds of thousands of naira to acquire, but they don’t have PCs. And majority of Nigerians with cars don’t have PCs.
As you noted, the primary target of computer literacy should be the schools. Especially the public schools. Because, most private schools have computer classes.
The utopian dream of one laptop for every Nigerian kid is more than meets the eye and if the government can even afford to provide the computers with one laptop for every class in all public schools, that will go a long way in accelerating the popularity of computer literacy in Nigeria.
The experts in ICT know how best to address the challenges.
I am still a novice.
Comment by Orikinla Osinachi — 12/2/2005 @ 3:48 am