"We sharp na, d problem of 9ja be like 2 frds dat started skool togeda then lost contact. Some yrs later d slower one saw dat his frd is now doin his doctorate degree decides to be following his <friend> to class instead of goin to complete his pirmary skool" - Rhoda
Translating this literally would suggest - "We as a country (Nigeria) think we are smart. Our problem is similar to 2 friends who started school at the same time and then lost contact. Some years later, one finds out that the other is now doing his doctorate degree unlike him who is still in primary school. So rather than completing his primary education, he jumps into a the same class with his friend. "
After so many years of military rule that rotated simply on sucking off the country's oil resources, the country runs into democracy. Seemingly, the leaders travel outside the country and see stuff like mobile communication. They are in awe, hence take the next flight back home.
"The same technology MUST be implemented here!" they insist - [Copy & Paste]. Of course where there's a hunger for a service, service providers will always emerge. And they did emerge in the form of different telecom firms all trying to boss each other for a share of the market called "the people". The people now became a market. Their communication, the goods!
Hence what we have at the moment is a cacophony of sorts of telecom firms who are unable to provide quality service to over 166million Nigerians especially when all Nigerians decide at the same time to say hi.
December 25, 31 & Jan 1 translate to doomsday year in year out. Not to mention other days within the calendar year when again everyone decides to say hi.
Lets not even discuss the charges for calls with the excuse given by these firms hinging on lack of efficient electric power etc etc.
How is this an issue when these telecom firms have made communication easier for we Nigerians?
Well it boils down to the fact that we've put the cart before the horse again. My lecturer recalls a lady telling him "O, Nigeria? That country where they buy a tele before they think of getting electric power for the tele" which is exactly what we keep doing.
Questions we should ask ourselves:
Before delving into the this I.T. thing of mobile telecom & bandwidths, would it not have been right if we sorted out our electric power problems?
Solving the electric power problems first, would it not provide more job opportunities for the citizens than what has been provided by the introduction of IT in the last 10years+?
With better power comes more industries.
More industries results in cheaper products as a result of production within the country.
More industries also results in more work opportunities
More industries also results in a shift towards technology inclined education to produce graduates to work in those industries.
The industries would then require technology to aid their business.
Which is then where IT should then come in not the other way round!!!