Future Plan
The different variants are premised under different assumptions. For the low variant, the assumptions are as follows:
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There will be low migration of businesses to the Science & Technology Park during the next 7 years.
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AkwaNet will provide adequate IT backbone such that many small IT businesses will operate in cyberspace and not require business premises in the Science & Technology Park.
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Efforts at Technology Industrialization will taper off and rural poverty will worsen.
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The virile adult and infant population of the country will be dramatically decimated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as no solution will be found to contain the scourge.
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The proposed University of Technology and the University of Uyo will suffer from attrition or stalled growth.
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The IT industry internationally will get glutted with little sales margins and a down turn in the country’s economy.
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The Government focus on the development of Science & Technology within the state may shift to another sector.
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Investment in the IT sector may be slow due to political un-certainty within the State and the country at large.
On the basis of the above assumptions, the low variant of the population growth of the Science & Technology Park in the next 7 years was calculated as shown here
The medium growth variant was premised on the following assumptions.
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There will be medium migration of businesses to the Science & Technology Park during the next 7 years.
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While AkwaNet provides adequate backbone for IT businesses. The Science & Technology Park will provide adequate backup services such that most IT businesses will see the need to be within the Park.
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Technology Industrialization will stabilize as rural poverty is alleviated.
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Mortality from the HIV/AIDS pandemic will gradually be curtailed by official intervention.
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Tertiary institutions within Akwa Ibom State will maintain steady growth as they would suffer less from industrial actions and strikes.
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The IT industry internationally will continue to develop new technology, which will be supported by average growth in the country’s economy.
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The Government maintains it’s focus on the development of Science & Technology within the state and continues to fund it as planned.
On the basis of the above assumptions, the medium variant of the population growth of the Science & Technology Park in the next 7 tears was calculated in table 3.
Table 3: Medium Growth Variant
# |
Business Type |
Projected Population |
% for low variant |
Actual Population |
1 |
AkwaNet |
210 |
100% |
210 |
2 |
I.T Businesses |
2,971 |
30% |
891 |
3 |
Commercial & Support Business |
867 |
40% |
347 |
4 |
Infrastructure & maintenance Staff |
75 |
40% |
30 |
5 |
Total |
4,123 |
35.84% |
1,478 |
Source: extrapolation from Table 1
The high growth variant was premised on the following assumptions
There will be rapid migration of businesses to the Science & Technology Park during the next 7 years
The backbone being provided by AkwaNet will be superior quality that will be further enhanced by the quality of infrastructure and backup services within the Science & Technology Park such that IT businesses will be attracted to set up businesses within the park
Technology Industrialization will continue growing at the rate perceived in the last 7 years
Mortality arising from the HIV/AIDS pandemic will be dramatically reversed as a result of government intervention.
Tertiary institutions within Akwa Ibom State will sustain a high growth as down time and industrial action would be drastically reduced as a result of government intervention
The IT industry internationally will continue to develop innovative technology, which will be supported by rapid growth in the country’s economy.
While maintaining it’s focus on the development of Science & Technology within the state the Government provides attractive incentives to rapidly attract IT businesses into the Park
Akwa Ibom State Government subscribe enormously to the products from governmental organizations within Nigeria to subscribe to these facilities.
Other States within Nigeria are slow to develop Nigeria’s IT policy.
Export incentives are provided for businesses within the Science & Technology Park.
On the basis of the above assumptions, the high variant of the population growth of the Science & Technology Park in the next 7years was calculated in table 4
Table 4: High Growth Variant
# |
Business Type |
Projected Population |
% for high variant |
Actual Population |
1 |
AkwaNet |
210 |
150% |
315 |
2 |
IT |
2,971 |
95% |
2,822 |
3 |
Commercial & Support Business |
867 |
98% |
850 |
4 |
Infrastructure & maintenance Staff |
75 |
125% |
94 |
5 |
Total |
4,123 |
98.98% |
4,081 |
Source: Extrapolation from table 1
The implication of the low variant is that the business population of the Science & Technology Park will grow from 240 – 1,478 in the period between 2005 – 2012. This is considered too conservative and unrealistic.
Already development funding, which is a major criteria in the growth of this facility is being set aside. Akwa Ibom State is the 1st state in the country to setup the appropriate ministry of Science & Technology and as such, are several months ahead of the other 31 States. This advantage will be retained id the pace the Ministry is developing this project is maintained..
Akwa Ibom State, since inception in 1988, has enjoyed constant political stability. Nigeria has enjoyed adequate stability suitable for business investments, and for the past 6 years, has enjoyed a democratically elected Government. Against this back drop, the medium – high variant should be achieved as business population growth within the Science & Technology Park.