1) Information technology has significantly impacted various domains in Nigerian society, particularly banking through electronic payments and banking which has eliminated long queues. 2) Substantial investments between 53-64% of 10 million naira were made by companies between 1995-1997 to acquire and update IT facilities, mostly in hardware and infrastructure. 3) IT adoption has contributed to increased capacity utilization by enabling faster communication and processing of transactions through email and websites between users and suppliers.

1. IMPLICATION OF IT PRACTICE: THE NIGERIAN SITUATION
INTRODUCTION
Information technology (IT): Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and
dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based
combination of computing and telecommunications.
IT is the area of managing technology as spans through variety of areas that include but not limited to
things such as processes, computer software, information systems, computer hardware, programming
languages and data constructs. In short, anything that renders data, information or perceived
knowledge in any visual format whatsoever, via any multimedia distribution mechanism, is considered
part of the IT domain.
DUTIES OF IT PROFESSIONALS
A few of the duties that IT professionals perform may include data management, networking,
engineering, database and software design, as well as management and administration of entire
systems. Information technology spreads further than the conventional personal computer and network
technologies, and more into integrations of other technologies such as the use of cell phones,
televisions, automobiles, and more, which is increasing the demand for such jobs.
IT IMPACT ON SELECTED DOMAIN IN THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY
The Impact of Information Technology on the Nigeria Economy
The most impact was recorded in the banking sector. Nigerians may not have forgotten the era of ‘tally
numbers’ and long queues in banks. Today, banking transactions can be done in the comfort of living
rooms and offices. The terms ‘electronic banking’ and electronic payments are now familiar buzz words,
but those services would not have been possible without software both at the back end and at the front
end of the transactions. Today, Nigerians own international debit cards and don’t have to carry cash
from one place to another. The impact of IT in the financial sector therefore has been phenomenal and
undeniable.
Impact on investment
Analysis of data collected showed that substantial investment has been made by the two sectors in
acquiring and updating of ICT facilities between 1995 and 1997 in Nigeria. As shown in the table below,
between 53 and 64% of the companies sampled, invested up to Naira 10 million in ICT facilities within a
period of 3 years. Another 11-20% invested between Naira 11 and Naira 50 million, while only 7-9% and
6-13% invested between Naira 51 and 100 million and above Naira 100 million, respectively. It must also
be noted that these investments are mostly in hardware and infrastructural facilities.

2. Investment (N m) Services (%) Manufacturing (%)
Less than 1 7 10
1-10 53 64
11-50 20 11
51-100 7 9
Above 100 13 6
Total 100 100
Impact on capacity utilization
ICT adoption had contributed significantly to closing of communication gaps, as users and suppliers can
now communicate more easily and faster, through electronic mail (E-mail) and web site, when placing
orders or sourcing for raw materials. Companies in the services sector also having been able to increase
their volume of business by means of electronic devices, which help banks for example, to transact
inter-bank operations, clear cheques and serve customers faster. It also enables hotels, aviation,
insurance and others to speedily reserve accommodations, confirm bookings and process premiums,
respectively.
Impact of IT on education
In fact, with the onset of computers in education, it has become easier for teachers to impart knowledge
and for students to acquire it. The use of technology has made the process of teaching and learning
easier and enjoyable. The following points highlight the ways IT has improved education in Nigeria.
 Technology has eliminated space and time constraints
 Technology has made student life easy
 It's easier to store information
 Information is easily accessible
 Technology is a teaching aid
 Teaching is sharing
 Mutual impact

3. IMPACTS (NEGATIE) OF I.T PRACTICE IN NIGERIA
IT development in African nation (e.g. Nigeria) is being hampered by lack of “Adequate political will
to fully support and embrace new technologies”.
The question is:
How many African countries have the political will to introduce electronic voting as one means to
ensure credible elections?
How many countries have enacted laws to protect intellectual property at it relates to software?
How many financial systems recognize knowledge encoded in a Compact Disc as sufficient collateral
for a bank loan?
It is within this context that we call (and still call) for more political will to embrace new world
trends.
Coming home to Nigeria, the federal Government may have set the tone with many commendable
IT initiatives, but many state Governments (except a few) and local Governments have lacked the
will to follow the examples. So the benefits of IT have not sufficiently trickled down the grassroots.
Also, we have also received flaks for the one step slip in ITU (international telecommunication
union) ranking of Nigeria in e-readiness. We were ranked 63 in 2007 and 64 in 2008. We should be
patient with the current efforts of government to reform the power sector. We all know that
electricity and Information Technology are inseparable. In other words, if our ‘ranking’ in power
slips, so will our e-readiness. For us, it is a mark of responsible leadership to be honest. We owe a
duty to stakeholders to speak forthrightly on issues and challenges we face in IT. The solutions will
require our collective ‘political will’ at all levels and tiers of governance.
Coming home to Nigeria, the federal Government may have set the tone with many commendable
IT initiatives, but many state Governments (except a few) and local Governments have lacked the
will to follow the examples. So the benefits of IT have not sufficiently trickled down the grassroots.
Also, we have also received flaks for the one step slip in ITU (international telecommunication
union) ranking of Nigeria in e-readiness. We were ranked 63 in 2007 and 64 in 2008. We should be
patient with the current efforts of government to reform the power sector. We all know that
electricity and Information Technology are inseparable. In other words, if our ‘ranking’ in power
slips, so will our e-readiness. For us, it is a mark of responsible leadership to be honest. We owe a
duty to stakeholders to speak forthrightly on issues and challenges we face in IT. The solutions will
require our collective ‘political will’ at all levels and tiers of governance.
Some of the negative impact of IT includes:
 Watching pornographic videos on the Internet.
 Internet fraudsters (yahoo yahoo).

4.  Misuse of phone
 Misuse social network
 Site proliferation
CONCLUSION
The study has particularly provided empirical evidence that indeed the adoption of ICT in the
Nigerian economy is beneficial, going by what the analyzed data collected on both the industrial and
service sectors have revealed. The training opportunities offered by the adoption of ICT afforded
Nigerians to acquire expertise in the following area:
 Hardware and software maintenance;
 Systems administration;
 AUTOCARD administration;
 Micro- banker training;
 Networking;
 Web development;
 Computer appreciation;
 PABX telephone systems;
 Application development
The overall conclusion, however, is that the adoption level of ICT in Nigeria has been directly
influenced by the availability of information and communication gadgets.