DISCUSSION
Indeed,
every facet of the basic right is
dependent on telecommunication (Black, 2004) while the existence of information
does not necessary ensure its use the real value of an information system lies
in the servicing of specific users needs. In order to solve this problem, and
hoist the country on the path of greater technological and overall social-
economic development as well asa create a new lease of life for the citizenry,
a planned increase in penetration of telecommunication services has been as a welcome
development for national growth. Every human society from the most primitive to
the most advanced depends on some from of telecommunications network. It will
be virtually impossible for any group of people to do fine they collective
identities or make decisions about their
coumon and binding interest without
communications. Communication networks make society a reality.
However, electronic communications involves
the process by which messages are sent across the globe through the use of the
computer, telephone line and modem. Unlike the fax system which allows one page
of text to be transmitted at a time, electronic communication facilities allow
several pages to be processed off- line and
through a single dialing, it allows these several pages of messages to be transmitted
to a gateway where they can be distributed to their various destination. Furthermore,
electronic communication involves any of several forms of information exchange
between the or more computer via any of several methods of interconnection such
as telephone line, optical fiber satellite or radio. This mode is fast,
reliable and in most application, an in expensive form of communication. The
foregoing is indicative of the requirement necessary to induce a meaningful
development of telecommunications infrastructure in African and Nigeria in
particular
While the major focus of this paper was
to review the effects of telecommunication on the economy of Nigeria, attempts
was made to examine the impact on specific issue as in income, job-
opportunities, crime and security. I actually used GSM as a telecom tool to
carry out the research and perhaps, the first major observation that should be
made is that the entry of GSM in Nigeria has actually radicalized the space of information and
communication technology among the generality of Nigerians. Without a space of
about eight years, a large percentage of Nigerians including those in rural
communities now have access to telecommunication. “In the late 1980s, a
particular minister of communication, a top government functionary in Nigeria made a
remarkable statement that:
“Telephone is not for the poor” but today in Nigeria, both the poor and the rich
have accesss to mobile communication (J.O Ajiboye, 2007)”.
On the impact of
telecommunication on job creation for the nation, it is reported in this study
that majority of school leavers, who hitherto have been idle and jobless now
engage themselves in retailing of GSM materials and as local service providers.
In most parts of the urban cities, town and villages in Nigeria, there
have been sprung up service centers for pay phones. Due to the small capital
required to set up such business, many who were employed also enter into such
businesses. This has reduced the number of unemployed youths in our cities an
most rural communities.
Also,
on the side of time management, although the respondents generally agreed that
this is possible. However, it was discovered that inspite of the efficacy of
GSM to encourage effective time management, Nigerians, especially the category
of people sample here (i.e. rural dwellers) have not changed their poor time
management among Nigerians from the top to the lowest level, suffer from the
“African time” syndrome. A situation where people get late for appointments,
meetings, programmes with impunity. Attitudes is something that cannot be
changed so easily. It is therefore not strength that positive changes in time
management are still not achieved, inspite of the GSM telecommunication mode in
Nigeria.
It could to be hoped that this communication mode will help to sharpen the sense
of time management skills among Nigerians.