Addressing digital technology gap challenges: The Nigerian experience

Abstract

The purpose of this is to understand the concept of the digital divide and examine the ways in which the divide can be bridged in Nigeria. A qualitative research approach was used to generate data and the technique of content analysis was used to change them to information for analysis. The world is saturated with information and communication technologies that have changed the way people work and connect to one another. These technologies play a great role in people's interactions, their pursuit of education, and certain careers in life. For some scholars in the developed world, the era of the digital revolution is over; it is now the post-digital era. However, for a developing country like Nigeria, though digitalization is seen as a necessity, there are still many challenges hindering its progress. Digital technologies are perceived as a double-edged sword with positive and negative impacts. Apart from the digital divide, some of these technologies have been abused or misused. According to the findings, the digital gap in Nigeria is caused by infrastructural inequalities and deficit and intentional institutional and political phenomenon. The threats posed by the digital divide call for an all-inclusive approach that should result in improved economic development. It is recommended that closing the digital divide in Nigeria is critical to making socio-economic growth in Nigeria more equitable and sustainable