The Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Development of ICT Professionals for Innovation in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the development of Information and Communication Technology related professionals in Nigeria. The paper identifies the prerequisites to producing graduates who have skills to create, manage and deploy contemporary world-class and innovative software solutions. Furthermore the paper presents the gradual but revolutionary steps the universities in Nigeria are taking towards producing high quality graduates for the Nigerian Software Industry in the shortest time. The paper discusses the need for definition of ICT related discipline, the demand and supply of ICT professionals in the Nigerian market. Highlighting the demand-supply imbalance the paper concludes by proffering solutions to meet the gap in the nearest possible time.