Information Communication Technologies and Integrated Community Development in the 21st Century

Abstract

This paper discusses Information and communication technologies (ICTs) and Integrated community development (ICD) in the 21st century. The discourse emphasized the need for the application of ICTs apparatus into the practice of ICD in the 21st century of the Jet technological age and her fast tracking effects on human activities which will also result to spontaneous progress in the use of computer and other communication gadgets in recent times, by adding values to information dissemination process and adoption globally. Secondly, to promote and actualize the ingredients of ICD via; sustainable livelihood, citizen's participation, integration, productivity, capacity building, income generation, and empowerment, that will strengthen the spirit of skill acquisition, self-dignity for values, norms and put smiles on the faces of the citizenries especially rural dwellers who are faced with the challenges of poverty, deprivation, poor communication network, insecurity, environmental degradation, community militancy amongst others. This also will in turn be achieved through the use of the internet to operate digital apparatus like the POS (for cash and business transactions), mobile phones, satellites cables, digital library, online-learning and improvement on the community mobilization strategies that will open doors for self-confidence, self-motivation, social networking, human transformation, through active citizen's participation in planning, execution and evaluation of projects and programmes of community felt needs. That will bring about sustainable livelihood and sustainable integrated community development practice. This discourse again centred on the concept of ICTs, need for its application, features, challenges. Also, the concept of ICD, elements, objectives and relationships of ICTs with the ICD to the society in the 21st century and conclusion.