A STUDY OF ICT READINESS OF SMEs IN NIGERIA FOR THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

The rapid evolution of the digital economy presents both opportunities and challenges for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. Despite the growing significance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in business operations, many SMEs struggle with inadequate digital infrastructure, limited ICT skills, security concerns, and restricted access to digital markets. This study develops an ICT-Readiness Framework tailored to the Nigerian SME landscape, addressing these challenges and providing a structured approach for digital adoption. The framework consists of six key components: Infrastructure Development, Digital Literacy, and Access to Digital Markets, Policy & Regulatory Support, Innovation & Sustainability, and Monitoring & Evaluation. To ensure its practicality, the framework was implemented as a C program, enabling SMEs to assess their ICT readiness, identify gaps, and receive actionable recommendations. The system was successfully executed, providing accurate evaluations based on SME-specific inputs. Findings from the implementation demonstrate that the framework can effectively guide SMEs in enhancing their ICT adoption by improving connectivity, promoting digital skills, expanding market reach, ensuring policy compliance, and fostering innovation. By adopting this structured approach, Nigerian SMEs can better position themselves for growth in the digital economy. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on SME digital transformation by offering a practical, data-driven solution for ICT readiness. Future research can focus on expanding the framework to include artificial intelligence-driven assessments and cloud-based integration for broader accessibility.