MAPPING AFRICA INITIATIVE AT BUILDING AN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

The article explores Africa's initiative at building a regional plan f or the formulation and development of a National Information and Commu nication Infrastructure (NICIP) in every African state. The paper also examines the challenges and opportunities confronting Africa in its b id to launch itself into the information age. The role of information, communication and knowledge in accelerating African socio-economic de velopment is emphasised. The paper makes a critical examination of the globalisation of economies and argues that globalisation appears to f avour the rich and not so much the poor. It challenges the Organisatio n of African Unity (OAU) to provide funding for the project if it is t o succeed. It eventually concludes by making the observation that Afri ca's Information Society Initiative (AISI) should promote Africa.