Greener Journal of Educational Research ISSN: 2276-7789 Vol. 2 (1), pp. 013-019, January 2012. www.gjournals.org 13 Research Article Ict “Tools” for Poverty Eradication and Economic Growth in Nigeria 1 Yekini N. A., 2 Rufai M.M., 3 Adetoba B.T., 4 Akinwole A.K., 5 Ojo O. Department of Computer Technology, Yaba College of technology, Lagos, Nigeria. 2 m_rufai@yahoo.com, 3 tiwabj@yahoo.com, 4 Agneskike2006@yahoo.com, 5 Wajuola2001@yahoo.com Corresponding Author’s Email: 1 asafe2012@gmail.com ABSTRACT This paper uses “tools” to include the computer hardware, software, and connectivity that we lump together under the title Information and Communication Technology (ICT). ICTs facilitate the creation, storage, management and dissemination of information by electronic means. This definition includes radio, television, telephone, fax, computer and internet. Newspaper and other print media do not fall under that definition but are strongly influence by electronic means (online news). In recent time, the understanding of poverty has undergone significant changes. It’s no longer viewed as being restricted to material deprivation, but encompasses intangible aspects, such as lack of access to schooling or health care, vulnerability towards external events, or being excluded from decision making processes. This approaches to poverty is also reflected in the MDGs, which addresses the multiple and interrelated dimension of poverty and development. Poverty eradication in this study is looked at eradication of poverty in terms of facilitating empowerment, promoting opportunity and enhancing security. The paper then proposed how ICTs can be used to eradicate poverty and promote economic growth towards empowerment, opportunity and security. Keywords: Empowerment, ICTs, Opportunity, Security. 1. Introduction Poverty is the opposite of wellbeing. Beyond lack of income, multidimensional concept of poverty also refers to dis- advantages in access to land, credit and services (e.g. health, and services), vulnerability (towards violence, external economic shock, and natural disaster), powerlessness and social exclusion. The World Bank report for 2000/2001 uses the standard of one US dollar per day to draw the line of extreme /absolute poverty. Considering that we have about 1.3 billion people around the world in poverty circle. Using Nigeria as a case study and considering the inflation rates between year 2000 & 2011. One can then put the assertion in the report at average of 5 dollars per day. If that should be the case then we may have above 80% of Nigerian living below poverty line and this could have negative effect on the economic growth of the nation. Modern approaches to poverty go beyond World Bank report of 2000/2001 because reliance on income terms alone misses many facet of the everyday life of the poor and therefore unsatisfactory. Therefore poverty is not only restricted to material deprivation, but encompasses intangible aspects, such as lack access to schooling, health care, vulnerability towards external events or being excluded from decision making processes. Based on the discussion, there are 3 concepts that determine level of poverty and for poverty to be eradicated in any society these three concepts must be facilitated in the society; 1 empowerment, 2 opportunity and 3 enhancing security. If people are empowered, there will be opportunity in the land and security will be enhanced then poverty will be eradicated or reduce to miniature therefore leads to economic growth. The diagram that follows illustrate the requirements to archive the concept listed i.e to make ICTs effective anti-poverty tool.