USING TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.
Abstract
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become one of the basic building blocks of modern society. Using technology to enhance youth development for positive social change. Young people are the world’s largest resource in development. Technology, importance of ICTs on youth and rural peoples of our country, the importance of ICTs is not the technology as such, but its enabling function in facilitating enhanced access to information and communication across large distances. It involved development and need of Information and Communication Technology. It also focused on strategies for sustained ICTs growth in Nigeria and development ranking of some selected countries. Nigeria has been ranked about 350 countries in terms of progress in the realm of information and communication technology.
INTRODUCTION
Definition of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) consist
of hardware, software, networks, and media for the collection, storage,
processing, transmission, and presentation of information. Communication technologies consist of a
range of communication media and devices, including print, telephone, fax, radio,
television, video, audio, computer, and the internet (Neto et. al., 2005).
Nigeria has the largest population of youth in the entire Africa — 66 per cent
of the total population in the country is below the age of 38 Nigeria.Nearly 40 per cent
of the Nigeria population is aged 18 to 35 years. The median age in Nigeria 2006
was just 23.2 years, compared to 34.5 years in China .Young
people are the world’s largest resource in development. Forty percent (40%) of
the world’s population is under 20 years of age and over 1 billion people are
between the ages of 15 and 25. In some developing countries, youth constitute
more than two thirds of the population
Young people who are given early access to information and
communications technologies (ICT) tend to become early adopters and adapters
of the technologies, skills valued for spurring innovation and economic growth.
Youth are at the forefront of societal transformation through ICT because
technology is what they have grown up with, what they know more about than
their parents, and what gives them an edge. With the Internet, young people
have acquired a powerful new tool to connect, communicate, innovate and take
action on things that matter to them on a scale that transcends their locality,
making them global actors
Young people’s high level of social consciousness are often underestimated,
but they care about many things including climate change and the environment,
the spread of HIV and other diseases, economic inequality and the lack of
employment opportunities, social justice and human rights. Because of their
ideals, those among them who are proficient with ICT and are motivated to
create change have a propensity for linking the use of the technologies to
development goals. However, without entrepreneurial skills, they lack the
necessary ability to sustain their efforts and overcome challenges that stand in
their way.
Laying The Foundation/Campaign/Enlightenment Workshops Seminar .As enablers of ICT-facilitated development and as social entrepreneurs
who want to make a difference in the world, empowered youth can be a potent
force for change.
Execution Plans/Procedure : Through Government / Government Agencies Communities , Schools / Schools Heads . There are many initiatives that
engage youth through conferences and connect them for virtual networking, but
few go on to provide a comprehensive support structure that enables youth to
create development impact for themselves and for others
Projects Time: This projects is aimed to change a behavioral /Social stature of the young, and it is important to all stake holders.
If this project is successful, it will be replicated in all our communities as a continuous programmed for our young school leavers.
Team members: