ICT Clubs in Nigeria

[augustine Togonu-Bickersteth]

On ICT Clubs in Nigeria by Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth,London,England
 
Mrs Omobola Johnson current Minister of Communication Technology has a Master Degree in Digital Electronics from the United Kingdom.She has done  more  than 100 days in office and we need to keep her on her toes.
Silicon Valley the land of Information and Communcation Technology there in California is the worlds largest and most Sucessful Industriall estate.It would not have been possible without the activities of youths involved in HOBBY ELECTRONICS other wise known as Amateur Radio Operators. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were first and foremost Hobbyist before they turned things into money making.Their  passions led to Apple
The youths Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard started in a Garage aboout 75 year ago.They did not start out to make money.They only wanted to create jobs for themselves.They created the now Multi Bilion Dollar IT Company HP
The Ministry of Youths, Ministry of Communication Technology and Education Should be working together to form ICT clubs iin our Secondary and Tertiary Institutions.
I was into Hobby Electronics in my Secondary School , Loyola College Ibadan and three of those I introduced to Electronics way back in 1980 went on to win Prizes for Electronixcs related Projects.There was one, Femi Obiri for an Electronics Organ, at UNIFE, Wiston Esin for a transitor Radio at International school, University of Ibadan and Niwa Sofola for a Remote Controlled Aeroplane in Far away, New Mexico,Us>. so there are a lot of possibilities. We can even have ICT clubs in Churhes and Mosques.
Unforunately when i got to the University of Ife with a department of Electronics they had no Amateur Radio Club or Hobby electronics Club.Some of the things you would be meeting in the third year in the University either in Physics or Electronics like light emmitting

Diodes and Transistors were things Children already knew in the Primary School in the U.S. TRUE!
If you go into the Archives, The Guardian Nigeria , August 4 or 5 1985 you would see a Radio Experiment I sent to the Junior Guardian as Project coordinator of the Physics Students association, University of Ibadan.
Imust note the comments of Education Activist Tony Marinho at a Unibadan Post graduate Forum.Ha had asked" Where is the Amateur Radio as built by the Physics Students"
Electronics is the fastest growing Engineering field.P.Electronics/ICT cuts acroos all sectors of our National life.Including the Much talked about SECURITY and AGRICULTURE.
How come Youths are making Millions of Dollars from ICT in the western world and Nigerians seeem to be left out? This iis why we need to keep the Minister of CommunicationTechnology on Her Toes.
I must add her there is the CALIFORNIA -NIGERIA busines forum or association that came to being at the nstance of a U.S. trip by the ex VP Atiku Abubakar.I would not know if it is now Defunct.
Good news from Kenya they are to Spend 7 Billion Dollars on what they term SILICON SAVANA fashioned after Silicon Valey California.Wither Nigeria? Ikeja has ben described as the Silicon Valley of Nigeria
There should be a Television Programme in Nigeria at the Network level focusing on Hobby electronics or ICT Clubs