%0 Journal Article
%T Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Overcoming the Digital Divide
%A Oyedokun Agbeja
%A R.O. Salawu
%J Information Technology Journal
%D 2007
%I Asian Network for Scientific Information
%X In an increasingly digitalized world economy, there exists a digital gap between Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world that translates into economic marginalization of the African region. Consequently, the following phases of development are crucial for the region: (1) the phase of massive digitalization during which the digital divide is bridged and (2) the phase of information and knowledge management in which information is systematically converted into knowledge and the latter into innovative-sustainable development. Information for conversion into knowledge is supplied by the first phase. The second phase is therefore existence dependent on the first. Therefore, the attainment of digitalized state is primary-sine qua non. The envisaged digitalized state can be actualized and consolidated with a combination of: (a) curriculum in computer education consisting of computer taxonomy, networking and ICTS in general for secondary and tertiary institutions but also aptly adoptable for informal groups and (b) establishment of multipurpose telecentres in rural areas and a diffusion of networks in urban centres. Once a steady digitalized state evidenced by uninterrupted connectivity to the internet is attained, the second phase can be realized. Without steady supply of electricity, however, sustainable development and competitive edge may be hard to come by in a world of fierce competition.
%K Digitalization
%K spatial
%K geographic
%K networking
%K computer taxonomy
%K telecentres
%U http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/ansinet/itj/2007/166-173.pdf