Information sector, even government transactions. Educational system cannot afford to be unconcerned towards information and data. Although, the systems have also grown and changed more rapidly than ever before, they have adapted all too slowly in relations to faster pace around them (Coombs 1965). Research has shown that the appropriate use of information and data in the teaching and learning can catalyze the paradigmatic shift in both content and pedagogy of education reform in the 21st century (Brandford, 1999).
Igbeka, (1998) stated that, Nigeria, like many other countries had adopted the use of information and data to co-ordinate and select science and technological objective consistent with national and strategies.
Igbeka, (1998) stated that, Nigeria, like many other countries had adopted the use of information and data to co-ordinate and select science and technological objective consistent with national and strategies.
Also, the World Bank in 1995 as cited by UNESCO(2000) , say that if African countries Nigeria inclusive cannot take advantage of the information and data revolution and surf this great wave of technological change, they may be crushed by it. In that case they are likely to be even more marginalized and economically stagnant than they are today. Use of information and data in Nigeria with regard to videos, television and multimedia computer soft wares that combine text, sound and moving images exposes students to understand faster the abstract nature of most contents. Networked computers with internet connectivity as product of information and data increases learners motivation to scramble for new technology and connect to real people
Information and data is very important in human resource administration. This is streamlined to the fact that people must be recruited, selected, place, appraised and compensated in an organization. The above will be achieved in the use of data and information. Expert estimate, historical comparism, task analysis, correlation and modeling which are the integral parts of human resource planning is made available through the use of information and data.
Odian(1997) outlined the advantages of the establishment of data and information manual in a company as:
- The rules by which the installation is governed are set don, understood and followed by everyone in the department.
- Common methods are used for all applications and work in the department
- The standards represent the procedures necessary to obtain the maximum benefit in the minimum
Furthermore, data based administrator is not left out in this context. Information and data is used to manage and control to preserve its integrity, maintain the data base definition, and prevent unauthorized usage or change. Therefore, data base has the following advantage, information supplied to managers is more valuable because it is based on a comprehensive collection of ‘data’ instead of files which contain only the data needed for one application, there is a great deal of programming time is saved because the data base management system handles the construction and processing of files and the retrieval of data
Decision making, research has been characterized by the data or information gathered by the researcher. This data has helped to improve the developmental progresses made in the research industries in Nigeria.
In Nigeria, a magnetic tape encoder is consists of a keyboard in which data form a source document is keyed on toe the tape reach via the encoders memory for entertainment purposes. Data capturing machine had been used in 2007 general election to eschew electoral malpractices which is a product of information and data processing in Nigeria. Information and data provided to the data base has been used in various banks to maintain standard banking and other related services the banks rendered to mankind.
Finally, in business data processing, all necessary activities such as recording and summarizing the financial transactions of a business are processed and the required outputs of statements and reports are prepared. This type of data processing of data processing is characterized by the processing of many files which are repeatedly, requiring few calculations and many output reports. Scientific data processing consist mainly of solving mathematical problems such as engineering formulae, research and development problems or any type of calculations that normally required a one time solution.
All the data processing that is done today could be done by human begins though not very quickly nor very accurately. In view of the complexities of our organizations today, decisions have to be made so often and so quickly hence we cannot afford to spend time processing data by hand . Automated data processing systems therefore become inevitable
Despite the need for automated data processing, it must be stressed at this point that no data processing can take place unless an individual or a group of individuals, want it done and designs a way to do it.
Strategies for the full utilization of information and data processing in Nigeria
The following strategies if implemented will ensure full utilization of information and data processing in Nigeria,
- The provision of electronic libraries: This will be made possible by the use of radios, videos, diskettes and CD rums in libraries where resource materials could be accessed.
- The setting up of teacher – learner education network for sharing ideas
- Building up database in partnership with groups such as the Africa live database at World Bank and UNESCO.
- Development of proper mechanism or projects which encourages the use of telecentres or community centers
- Use of mixed –mode teaching approach in educational sector
- Use of information and data in the banking sector
Making use of information is important
Information refers to data that has been processed to make meaning and useful. The above examples of data convey little or no meanings to us. But if we can do little job with the provided data items, we can then call it a pieces of information. Thus the above data can be processed into information as.
EVLYN EDWARD is a native of Ikwo in Ebony State. And Abia tower is soft long. The processed data can be utilized a as a soft copy, hard copy, signal visual and simulation
Here I will use diagram to illustrate the relationship between data and information.
Meaning of data
Data is necessary for every computer processing /operation. It refers to a raw facts that includes numbers alphabets, world, symbols voice, and identified signals given to a computer during the input operation. The computer manipulates the data fed into it, to produce information. A data can be defined as the smallest entry that if many are collected could be used in uniquely describing an object, event, place or persons. Examples of data item are - EVLYN Edward soft, Abia, Tower, Ebonyi, Ikwo, Native