Akwa Ibom News Online Commentary

Telecommunication centres (Telecentres) are places where the public can come together to access the internet, learn new skills and tackle local problems. In this state Telecommunication centres are needed for basic access, and for value-added services that can contribute to the social and economic welfare of the community.

Quality Information, Technology and Communication education and digital training will reduce massive unemployment among youths in the Niger Delta Region. If Information, Technology and Communication education and digital training is given a priority it would go a long way to reducing poverty and unemployment reduction.

The governments as well as telecommunication operators and co-operatives societies, should also contributed to the spread of access to services.

The wireless service infrastructure provided by this centre should be shared and managed by the consultant, Management committee or private organization aimed at reducing the high cost of Internet connectivity.

Telecommunication centre target is to spread computer literacy among young women and men and to bridge the gap between the economy and the information sector. Also the Telecommunication centre will implement maximal use of computer technologies to promote and build young people capacities and enable them find job opportunities in a challenging man power market. We hope our young women and men might be inspired to take the first step to make success and bright future. This center is committed to increasing the social and economic impact of rural dwellers around the state.

Telecommunication centre may be independent individual agencies or enterprises, part of a franchise, or perhaps a project of a national agency. All Telecommunication centres aim to stimulate and respond to the demand for information technology and communication services, yet each Telecommunication centre is likely to have its own unique qualities that match the needs of the users. Of course, all Telecommunication centres believe that they are relevant to the area they serve. An important indicator of the success of any Telecommunication centre is the degree to which it becomes an integral part of the community it serves.

People need access to telephones, faxes, photocopying machines, e-mail and Internet services to strengthen them personally and professionally, as well as for rural development. If they have a sense of ownership of the Telecommunication centre, and they or their representatives are involved in the set-up and running of a successful Telecommunication centre, their self confidence will be boosted, negativity about effecting change will be banished and many other positive benefits for development in the community will result.

The primary focus on this write-up is on Multi-purpose Telecommunication centre (MTC) to be owned by the government, because of the potential to address the needs of the rural people in Akwa Ibom State in a way that it should empowers the area they serve, end isolation, create economic opportunity, give people a voice and educate the public, help communities seize the benefits of the knowledge economy, make communication easy.

MTC are generally seen as structures that can encourage and support communities to manage their own development through access to appropriate facilities, resources, training and services. Other names for Multi-purpose Telecommunication centre are: Telecommunication Service Centre; Multi-purpose Information and Communication Centre; and Multimedia Centre.

Multi-purpose in this context means that a Telecommunication centre is able to provide a variety of services to different user groups within an area: for example, services relating to education and training; information; health; culture; the economy; welfare; social issues; safety and many more. Although they may start off with funding or a grant, and may rely to a large extent on volunteer support, the aim is always to generate sufficient income through the provision of services to become self-sustainable. To realize this aim, MTC need to be managed well and provide services for which there is a demand.

The overall objective of the Telecommunication centre Project should be to develop, test and promote community-based information and the applications of communication technology for the development of rural communities, youth’s empowerment and poverty alleviation.

Telecommunication centre should be created to offer specialized services such as: telephone calls. E-mail and Internet access, word processing. Desktop publishing, Spread sheets and databases. Computer use (hourly or daily rates can be charged for this). Education and training (distance education, tele-learning, face-to-face Adult and Community Education). Computer training, Graphic design, Printing, Web Page design (have your own personal “home page” designed, launched and regularly maintained through the Telecommunication centre), Professional writing, Scanning, Photocopying. Binding, Laminating. Fax communications, business and secretarial services. Service directories (development of a local community phone directory - this could be printed out on paper as well as be in electronic format), Video conferencing. Video or still camera hire (daily or weekly hire of photo/video recording equipment for private, professional, business or community events). Internet searches. Information services (for example, a Telecommunication centre can act as an employment agency, and advertise vacancies and staff availability. Government information, up-to-date local and world news, market prices, trade opportunities, classified advertisements and other information of interest to the community can also be made available, provide on-line banking facilities. A Telecommunication centre can help users to access the services offered by their bank.

Our youths could be trained on four months professional information technology to alleviate poverty, course outline for such training should include: Introduction to computer, introduction to operating systems, Computer Components, Software Installation, Hardware troubleshooting, Networking, VSAT Installation and maintenance.

Telecommunication centre should always be open to new opportunities and always be sensitive to the needs of the people. Apart from the services described above, some communities may be interested in the following services which have the potential to increasing the revenue of the Telecommunication centre, distributing pamphlets and promotional material for small businesses, production of community calendars, telemarketing for small business entrepreneurs and tourism and information services.

The full potential of the Internet has not yet been exploited by the Local Government Councils and their rural dwellers. This is to a large extent due to lack of facilities or personnel who have not been trained in the medium and who have a lack of understanding of its potential. Electronic mail, much faster than conventional postal mail, could be used by individual, Government or NGOs to communicate with each other and/or with multiple recipients in order to avoid photocopying memos or sending multiple faxes.

Akwa Ibom State’s objective of promoting sharing of resources could be realized through the Internet. Resources of one member or organization or office could be shared by the others, which would help governments to pool their resources and avoid duplication. The Internet also has the potential to help member government reach rural and outlying areas not accessible by road or water transport. Educational materials could be uploaded on the Internet and then downloaded at rural centres where they are needed, saving time and cutting down on production and transport costs. Government could use this service for his adult education programmes.

The Internet could also be used for health education and awareness campaigns to target wider areas. Education materials for promoting health could be put on the Internet complete with pictures, captions, charts and other aids. This would be very useful to the people, an AIDS awareness group, anti-kidnapping campaign, the Pro-life movement of Akwa Ibom State, and other health education agencies.

Telecommunication centre’s target groups will normally include a number of the following: individuals (local community members, tourists and passing professionals such as truck drivers and engineers), small businesses, schools, youths, disabled people, farmers, women’s groups, churches, clinics, hospitals and healthcare workers, police, NGOs, Trade unions, Civic societies, Political parties, Government departments, Sports clubs.

If fourteen Telecommunication centres (four in each senatorial district and one in each of the campus of Akwa Ibom State University) are created, they should be in a better position to enrich the communities they serve, create employment and empowered the youths. A Telecommunication centre should have training hall, cyber café and business centre.

Ekerete John Ekerete

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