Convergence of African Communication Systems with Information and Communication Technology for National Security
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Abstract
The pervasive nature of insecurity in Nigeria with its enormous challenges to national development has made the investigation of the relationship between African Communication Systems and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in security management a necessity in Nigeria. This is true because the use of ICT among rural population has been on the increase. ICT have been found to be useful in bridging knowledge gap and enhancing social relationships. Africans have a long history of worship of deities, which command obeisance among members of the community. This has made traditional communication compelling and attractive in security management. With a large population of rural people who are deeply rooted in African Traditional Systems of worship, it is a contradiction that insecurity has been the greatest challenge facing the peoples of Nigeria. A study of the relationship between traditional Communication Systems and ICT as panacea for insecurity has proved to be a beneficial exercise. To what extent has the extra-mundane patterns of Communication leveraged on ICT in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria. This study was guided by the Technological Determinism theory, and adopted qualitative and mix-method, with focus group discussions. Findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between ICT and social relationships in rural communities as well as the nexus between ICT and ACS in the management of security in rural Nigeria.