ICT, Development and Poverty Nexus in Africa: Way Forward

Abstract

Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) have proven very important in every facet of development. It has become a critical tool in almost all areas of human endeavours that engender development through reduction of poverty. Africa has been known as an impoverished continent in spite of its abundant resources. Hence, it is imperative that an investigative study be carried out to know ICTs effects on development and poverty reduction, especially in Africa. This study was carried out to investigate the inter-relationship existing among ICT, development and poverty. It employed cross-sectional dataset of 43 African countries. The study used descriptive statistics, Cobb Douglas production function and three-stage simultaneous equation to analyse the data. It also made use of student’s t-test for the test of hypotheses. It was observed that mobile subscription, internet access and adult literacy positively and significantly influenced ICT development. Also, mobile subscription, adult literacy and per capita GNI (gross national income) positively and significantly influenced human development. However, inequality level negatively and significantly influenced both ICT and human development. Inequality level positively and significantly affected poverty, while internet access had significant negative influence on poverty. Lastly, the study showed a significant association between ICT development, human development and poverty level in Africa. Conclusively, ICT development and poverty rate were significantly inversely related. It was concluded that African governments should embark upon programs and policies that would incorporate ICT and education programs which would improve the livelihoods of their peoples with all required sincerity of purpose.