Nigeria looks to webwise youth

Sesan: Has access to a computer in the office

Nigeria recently appointed a web designer as the country's first information technology youth ambassador in an attempt to promote computer skills, writes BBC News Online's Alfred Hermida.

Gbenga Sesan is a man with a mission - to preach the gospel of computers to Nigeria's youth.

As information technology youth ambassador, he faces an uphill struggle in a country where there are few fixed phone lines and most people do not have a computer.

Ironically he does not have his own computer, but he argues that this is not a problem.

"Even if the resources are not readily available, it's one thing to prepare now so that when an opportunity comes, you can take the best advantage of it," he says.

"We can prepare ourselves mentally so when the materials come, we can always take advantage of them," he told the BBC programme Go Digital.

Computer training

Mr Sesan was appointed to his post five months ago after winning a national web design competition organised by the information technology training college, the Executive Cyberschuul, in Lagos.

We have to work around our limitations

Gbenga Sesan

The aim of the contest was to identify young Nigerians who, in spite of the country's poor infrastructure, possess the potential to develop computer skills.

During the two years he is spending as youth ambassador, Mr Sesan aims to increase awareness about computers and offer coaching classes to Nigerian youths across the country.

He hopes to train 4,000 young Nigerians in information technology by 2003.

He believes this is possible, despite the shortage of computers.

"We have to work around our limitations," he says.

"Even if you have three computers for 40 people, you could have all of them trained and then they come from time to time to use the machines."

Tech generation

Courses in information technology and computing would open up new career opportunities for Nigerians and help close the digital divide with the West.

"Most companies in Nigeria now advertise for young people who know how to design websites," says Mr Sesan.

Potentially, the country could develop a computer-literate generation who could offer their services to clients anywhere in the world.

The 25-year old electronics and electrical graduate hopes to be able to give Nigeria a bigger presence on the worldwide web.

He is setting an example by creating his own personal website, due to launch in July.