3.0 ICT IN THE CONTEXT OF NIGERIA’s VISION 20:2020 The long-term strategic vision for the ICT sector was elaborated upon in the National Development Plan titled “Nigeria Vision 20:2020”. According to the document: The increasing globalization driven by ICT makes it imperative for Nigeria as an emerging market to irreversibly consider the application and promotion of ICT strategy to facilitate its rapid growth and development. This will involve the development of a vibrant ICT sector to drive and expand the national production frontiers in agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors. It would also require the application of the new knowledge to drive other soft sectors: governance, entertainments, public services, media sector, tourism, et cetera. The Vision 20:2020 document further acknowledges the following: In respect of knowledge and digital divide the situation remains worrisome. This is, in terms of knowledge generation, penetration of ICT, access to and usage of internet and telephone penetration (fixed and mobile) and physical infrastructure. The knowledge and digital divide cuts across geographical, gender and cultural dimensions. It exists among the 36 states of the Federation plus the Federal Capital Territory, the 774 Local Governments, rural and urban areas, men and women, rich and poor, young and old, able bodied and disabled, illiterate and educated. This National ICT Policy has been developed to organize the sector for performance and efficiency, so that it supports the development goals of Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020. For many countries, the emerging ICT sector is fast catching up and even exceeding the economic contribution of many traditional areas of national economies. In !"#$%&"'()*+(,%'$-.(/(0120( ( ( ,"34(22(