Enabling Akwa Ibom State as an ICT-Led Growth Centre in Nigeria: A Private Sector View
Ebebe A. Ukpong, Ph.D.

Abstract
Using available official data, the study examined the environment and conditions created to enable ICT to develop and penetrate in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, so as to maximally function as a key enabler or tool that facilitates wealth creation, poverty reduction and job creation through knowledge utilization and innovation. ICT enables individuals and organizations achieve strong gains in performance in all fields of economic and social activities. There is conceptual harmony between the seven sectors suggested by the private sector for application of ICT and the seven elements of the state development vision. The evidence suggests, however, a thin ICT enablement in the state. One of the policy implications identified calls for a strong government’s involvement in the ICT enablement process beyond the foundational role to close the incongruous gap and deepen the ICT enablement process through the third generation industrialization prototype.

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