1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
In this fast growing and moving world faced with globalization, the core of economic development today depends on knowledge and technology but successful economic excel at generating and disseminating knowledge, as well as exploiting it.
Technology is the engine that change transforms resources based economy to knowledge — based economy. But at the macro level, technology enables national leverage in the modern world and it brings about wealth and better welfare for the people.
In as much as development is concerned, this is now a new trend of religion that is sweeping across the world like a wild fine in both length and breath and hereby transforming across the entire world as a global unit. Information and communication technology (ICT), the information and communication technology (ICT) has been defined by many elites from different perspectives thus, Lacy (1990) defined it as term involving the process of acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of local pictorial textual and numeric information.
Information and communication technology (ICT) is not merely seen as hardware development but also as software, which is advantageous in the changing works, attitude to work, in establishing efficiency in business transaction, in achieving efficiency in communication, increasing profits in creating new jobs and effective in mass education, Ohakwe (2001).
Information Technology (ICT) has applications in almost all spheres of human endeavours. Akpore (2005) states that developing suitable economy through information technology implies that applying information and communication technology in all the main sectors of the economy hence the world is transiting from being a resource based one into a knowledge based one. Such natural resources can provide as much s it can be realized from the output of a society that has truly become a knowledge — based society. Sadly enough, our schools. The (learning environment is a shadow of itself in terms of quality and quantity of items of information and communication technology) the result being that we are using yesterday's knowledge, skills abilities and competencies in this era.
Consequently, the introduction and use of such technologies in communication and information such as internet, computers, micro-electronics, telecommunication tools as the email, e-commerce, e-banking just to mention but a few, even many educators and students in higher institutions are yet to be in abreast with some of these soft and hardware. What an education tragedy. (Ohakwe 2001). Recently, in e-learning, that is electronic learning, project embarked by Zinox Technology across 40 institutions of higher learning with the aim to train Nigerian undergraduates to international acceptable students.
Coming to the heels of computerizing, Nigeria thereby taking this venture to all the nook and crannies of this country, hence the establishment of information and communication technology parks in institutions of higher education with Imo State inclusive therefore, it becomes increasing to determine the information and communication technology in today's business environment in Imo State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The information and communication technology (ICT) as a new trend in linking several African university to the global village with ultra modern world class information and communication technology tool is aimed at capacity building, youth empowerment, expert information and technology skills in the country and in the long run as a lunch pad from attracting global out-sourcing opportunities for Nigerians with graduates in particular.
Therefore, this approach towards capacity building as an effective model to bring training, technology and digital access to people within these geographical education and the need for effective global competitiveness. But in higher institution in Imo state, especially the universities polytechnics, this approach towards capacity building seems to be a far coy. As much information and communication technology (ICT) is not seen either to be talked about or thought, its existence and usage among the students are nothing to write home about. Even the skills required in the application is very shaking on its foundation thereby using the yesterday's knowledge abilities, competence in today's educational sector. Therefore, learning their undergraduates grouping as far as modern and the things t information and communication technology (ICT) is concerned.
Based on the foregoing, the researcher was motivated on ascertain the information and communication.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
Generally, the study was designed to examine the information and communication technology (ICT) in today's business environment in Imo state and implicating for national development.
Specifically, the objectives of the study are as follows:
- To identify areas of sustenance of information and communication technology (ICT) opens to the students of today's business environment.
- To determine the level of knowledge and skills needed by undergraduates in the area of information and communication technology (ICT) in today's business environment.
- To identify hindrances to teaching and learning information and communications.
- To determine the implications of information and communication technology (ICT) for nation development.
1.4 Significance of the Study
The study will be of great benefits and assistance to institutions of higher learning. The government and other state holders and in education in Imo State through their position in the global world as far as information and communication technology (ICT) is concerned as to impact the greatest information and communication technology skill in their undergraduates.
It also highlighted the numerous benefits according to information and technology, which will encourage the population under study to enable full information and communication technology (ICT) system. More so, it will help in guiding the national board for technical education and national institution where office workers like secretaries and trainees. The information obtained will enable them update their curriculum and increase their training facilities.
1.5 Research Questions
The following research question will help guide the study.
- What are the areas of existence of information and communication technology (ICT) in today's business environment in Imo State?
- What is the level of knowledge and skills needed by undergraduates in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT) in today's business environment in Imo State?
- What are the hindrance to the teaching and learning information and communication technology (ICT) in today's business environment in Imo State?
- What are the implications of information and communication technology (ICT) for national development?
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study is restricted to information and communication technology (ICT) in universities and polytechnics in Imo State and implications for national development.
