The Digital Divide: The Third World Challenge.

The evolution of man along racial lines has painfully set the tone for divergent level of thinking and exposure to sophistication of technology as a means to enhance living, social, academic and economic activities. Electronics development and industrial revolution whose mechanisms had been developed by renowned scientists, technologists and engineers has created a new order of living where knowledge reigns supreme and information sharing is the buzzword. The urgent need to transmit information even at greatest distances in this age and new information society where globalization is the key word is non-negotiable. The integration of computers and communication facilities with the aim of transmitting, receiving and processing information shrinking barriers and time has defined the new revolution infecting every fabric of the society known as Information & Communication Technology (ICT).The synergy of the computing world and communication mechanisms has changed the living of humans globally and has effectively defined globalization where every location on the world map seems like the next doorstep.
The rapid development of ICT in the Western World, the steady catch up by the Asian wizards and the contrasting slow assimilation of new technologies by developing countries which are panacea for new way of living still shows vividly the widening digital gulf. The need for developing and developed territories to catch up in the fast changing world where seamless global partnerships are fixed and business are sealed over the internet protocol in seconds is non-negotiable to actualize the Millennium Development Goals. . The fact that developing countries are mainly high end consumers of technology as the developed countries are the developers of ICT technologies still leaves too much to be taught of. Third World countries still face multiple problems such as poverty, hunger, corruption, social conflicts and so on are still the multifaceted problems the third world countries grapple despite increased access to globalization.
The Nigerian state has witnessed tremendous change with astronomical progression in mobile usage, computer penetration, increased Internet usage and ultimately the launch of the NIGCOMMSAT-1. Even though this changes has been rapid over the years, statistics still show clearly that we are still marginally under-utilizing our potential despite our advantageous numerical strength. The youth who represents over 60% of the total population need to be orientated on the rich potentials of ICT. Even though, few ICT professionals now pervade the
Nigeria Cyberspace, people who still find ICT for their career development and local solutions are still minute in ratios. The need to show ICT as the tool for human empowerment and engine of innovative skills with global competitiveness is highly important for the survival of the nation in the face of high level of unemployment among graduates of tertiary institutions. The need to develop our own “Silicon Valleys” to be powered by Nigerian Youths where innovations that will stun and challenge the Western technology like the Chinese, Indian example and so on is of urgent necessity. As Nigerian youths have so much dexterity and intelligence, their brainpower ought to be challenged by equipping them with basic ICT skills and orientating on how to transform their ideas and innovation to wealth.
The third world challenge is how to catch up in the global market despite the various conflicting drawbacks and to infuse the concept of globalization into the innards of its populace. This will definitely remove bureaucratic government structures, impact the social and academic status with the right efficient and communication skills. The third world countries have an escape route to leap into the league of developed nations by heavily investing in its youths whose represent a blossoming future. This includes effective educational structures, ICT training, entrepreneurship and managerial skills and so on which can be passed to the youths who can be described as the vehicles of change and hope. The Nigerian state need to start investing in its future by promoting ICT skills acquisition as this clearly shows the route to a secured future.
In conclusion, the Third World challenge lies in empowering the minds of the next generation at bridging the digital divide and consequently to promote development of nations.