Dr Odedra cites a number of infrastructural reasons for the lack of effective ICT. What are these?

• The lack of a reliable power supply to operate computers
• The need of a well functioning telephone network to transmit data (For 1000 people the number of telephones range between 12 and 50 depending on the country)
• The lack of foreign currency to import the technology
• The lack of computer literate people

What is identified as the most pressing need for Africa (in terms of ICT)?

How successful have computer-aid projects been?

Why have they failed?
However, although the number of computers has increased rapidly in some places, the process of computerization has not been as successful as it should be in a majority of these countries. There is extensive under-utilization of equipment and major computer-based projects have failed (Odedra, 1990a). Examples abound of systems that are simply not used because of the lack of secondary equipment, suitable electric power, or training. The spread of computers in Africa owes more to hard selling from manufacturers and vendors, the urge to keep up with the latest technology, donations from international assistance organizations (half of the computers in Africa acquired in the early 1980s were 'aid-donated'), self-interest, and pressure from computer professionals than to evidence of their successful use in solving real problems.3What computer skills are identified as lacking?


What lack of business skills are identified as major problems?