Information Technology

Information and computer technology (ICT) greatly facilitates the acquisition and absorption of knowledge. It offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance education, improve policy formulation for local government, and widens the range of opportunities for business. Furthermore, new communication such as wireless telephones and internet promises to reduce isolation and open access to knowledge in ways unimaginable.
Despite these promises, the reality in most of Africa is that of a digital divide – the gap between those who have access to and control of technology and those who do not. It therefore means that the introduction and growth of ICT in Manyu will be a most challenging undertaking. Our failure to address this challenge would mean a further widening and deepening of the existing economic and social inequalities. It also means a Manyu child may not be able to compete in the 21st century as all new jobs require some computer knowledge.
Once again, Manyu finds itself at a development crossroad. This time the challenge is not about tarring roads, the issue is whether we can harness our substantial human capital by investing in communication technology for greater economic gain. In 1996, after the first Manyu World conference, two indigenous sons, Ebai Tabeh and Simon Etta saw a need to lead Manyu in the 21st century with the introduction of Computer technology. The first Computer school in Manyu was opened by Ebai Tabeh (Pyramid Computer Institute) to train students in office automation. To spur economic activity and move our people from the type-writer age, Simon Etta established a business center (Ecotel Communications) in Mamfe with computers to serve the public. It has been more than fourteen years since the innovation of these industrious Manyu engineers took effect. The use of computers for business has increased ten fold in Manyu. However, fourteen years is a long time and much has evolved in ICT. Even with the advent of Wireless (WIMAX) in other parts of the nation, Manyu still lacks high speed Internet facilities not to mention computers in our schools to prepare the youth for the challenges of the future.
The question of information technology’s impact on Manyu’s economic growth and productivity cannot be debated. The question therefore is how do we prepare and take advantage of the Computer revolution. During the past conferences, MEDWC has taken the lead to equip our schools, hospitals and local council offices by donating Computers and software to improve processing of information. Furthermore, MEDWC believes we must do the following as a long term strategy:
- Increasingly educate our people about the benefits of ICT in economic and social development.
- Establish specialized centers for ICT training in all regions of Manyu with a goal of having every Manyu child of school age computer literate by the year 2020.
- Equip our secondary and high schools with modern computer facilities.
- Promote increased training in software development, programming and hardware for capacity building and preparing a ready workforce.
- Encourage the use of the Internet to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of education at all levels both formal and non formal setting