ACCOUNTANTS AND ICT: BEYOND THE FIGURES FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHANGE

Abstract

This paper fosters the importance and need of international cooperation for use & promotion of Information and Communication Technologies for economic change in Nigeria among professional accountants. The concept of “Information Society” has made it imperative that no country can develop without involving and focusing on regional and global development perspectives. Collaboration has become the key word. When we talk of integrated socio-economic change, it takes into account many areas which can benefit from faster access and enhanced productivities by using ICT. Some case studies on use of ICT for different initiatives within Nigeria are reviewed and conclusions drawn on how it does support the socio-economic change and development, which may be similar and bear lessons for other developing countries. The supply side of ICTs has increased substantially in Kenya. For example, the number of mobile phone subscribers has more than tripled over the past five years, while FM radio stations have proliferated all over the country. There has been a lot of enthusiasm on internet usage with the landing of three undersea fibre optic cables in Lagos and their subsequent operationalization. Marxs of mobile phone service providers and communication equipment now dot both the rural and urban landscapes, and advertisements for some form of ICTs are common on billboards along major highways and roads.