The Role of Modern Technology in Achieving Communication Efficiency in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The decision to carry out a study, be it academic qualification study, case study. and other various forms of study calls to the mind a purpose for which such study is originally intended.
Empirically therefore this study has its primary purpose to critically assess the Role of modern technologies in achieving communication efficiency as it concerns Nigeria. Happily, what we have today with respect to communication has been a remarkable improvement and total manifestation mankind’s strong spirit in the race into the twenty first (21st) century.
This study therefore concentrated on these notable and indispensable successes of the past and present and use it as a yardstick to determine the status quo in the nearest further. Thus information will be laid on the internet, E-mail, digital phones, computer data base, information super high way, to mention but a few. Interestingly, the need and role all these play in our overall business, political life, freedom of expressions and disseminating of information and also the place of the modern information technology on the question of test of validation of potency and strength of God in the face of internet “ever dynamic web” that had webbed the world.
The research will additionally buttress the discussion on how only Nigerian has remained clumoving in this all important global race. The “Net” has become more and more opportunity to shoot out information from most restrictive areas and zones.
Should this be the reason why the development of internet communication is not given a chance of motivation by the government? The purpose of this study once move is to analyse all these discoveries strickly coordination without prejudice, make decision, conclusions and recommendations for the future.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
SOURCES OF LITRATURE
To critically examine the role of modern technologies in achieving communication efficiency in Nigeria, there is need for one to know that at the very beginning, human interactions cum communications are limited to tiny hamlets where the individuals found themselves. So, as the human population began to increase and spread all over the surface of the earth, reaching out to people in divers areas became a near-impossibility. Before now, factors like geographical isolation, low level of technology, and awareness of the outside world, among others, combined to frustrate the process of mass communication.
Today, things have changed. The revolution in communication technologies has enhanced human communication to the point that one can easily be in touch with somebody in a distant land in a matter of seconds. This means that modern technologies in communication have weakened the apparent geographical and technological factors that tend to limit human communications. The entire epoch of the Nigerian society is regrettably painful. The race for the 21st century is on at the herm of the new millennium. To achieve communication efficiency in the modern information age demands investigation and study countries like America, Germany and Britain experience and continue to experience revolution. Thus, the stage in their society has gone beyond the crude oral-communication, the ancient telephones, the obstacle printing press, the seemingly out-dated and out going postal communication. In these places, the “Net technology” has become the order of the day. E-mail, Fax system, digital mobile system, computer improved services have all become part and parcel of their daily life either in pursuit of their business inclination or the restoration and fastening of symphony of social relationship and brotherhood with others.
BILL GATE is a golden name in the recent information age. He is the richest non-business man in America and even in extreme round the globe. His internet is a float and the outcome of that futuristic conflagration is now is clear as rare November sunshine. The web or net as it is often popularly, there is virtually nothing that cannot be known, seen, done the way they should be done via the internet. Crystallizing this issue to the Nigeria situation especially as it reflects communication efficiency, its position in the verge of this new millennium, one can summarily say in a more practical terms that considering many dynamics as viewed from different perspectives, one will easily say that the country and society ie Nigeria is by no means not yet prepared for the information age.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH METHOD
The selection of a primary method of investigation of a given method is a key consideration for investigators. This is the view of Osuala defence of understanding of methodology as a prerequisite for a successful study.
A researcher to him therefore must first of all decide on which area and aspect his problem is mainly centred. It is on the basic of this that the researcher selects the method that is best suitable for his study.
This chapter aims at finding the best method suitable for this all important subject of study. In the course of study, the researcher recalled that there are many methods of research and fact finding. There is equally the recognition of this fact that some specific methods are meant for some particular range of studies. For this study, the suitable method is the survey research method. The choice was found on the solid background of the subject of study and infact its orientation towards human development and survival. Equal to this, there is need for human involvement.
Human nature is not static the need for fact obtained in the study to be empirically justifiable is of paramount importance to him.
He decided not to use the interview method as this is meant and well suitable for smaller sizeable population. Instead, direct questionnaires distributions and administration was adopted in assessing whether or not there is communication efficiency in Nigeria, in the modern information age, the researcher took a global view and policy into cognissance, that is considering the world as a family and making a case for Nigerian situation.
RESEARCH DESIGN
The research design in this study is questionnaire. This question is to survey research what code sheet is to content analysis research.
The researcher used coded questionnaires instead of using code sheet. Care was taken to ensure that the questionnaires were clear and simple as possible.
RESEARCH POPULATION AND SAMPLE
For easy computation of information and for the desire to have a rational population, the researcher decided to use a working population of two hundred people spread at their ages, occupations and other dimensions like marital status and qualifications.
The question of our readiness for the modern information technology is of paramount importance. This is why the response of a large population is necessary. For it will go a long way to buttressing what ever arguments and conclusion that might be formed at the end of this study. It is country such responses, objectively made that the country can actually settle down and decide on what is its position towards the modern or golden information technology.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
In attempt to analyse and evaluate the raw data collection in this study, it is good to draw an elaborate blue print which will serve as a guide throughout the analysis. The Crux of the matter is that as earlier stated, the research techniques or method adopted is the survey research method. Questionnaires were individually and directly administered to the respondents that formed the population. On the whole, two hundred questionnaire were distributed and administered and all of them were returned. Following this, the researcher worked with a population of two hundred people and the analysis is based on the responses of this population.
It is pertinent to note that there is up to twenty questions owing largely to the nature of the topic of study which is best described as virgin. An indebted analysis on all the question was done and worked out, percentage, frequency of reoccurrence of population I a particular propositions equally evaluated. There are as provided, tables for illustration of the researcher’s contention and opinion in the stated hypothesis which showed a replics of the view point of the respondents.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Bill Gate started micro-soft in 1975, he developed the operating system in 1981, since then the development and trend has remained dynamic, progressive and exciting too. The net technology has become part and parcel of all aspect of our family cum national life. In banking, cinema, music, quto cars, webs, television etc, are now involved in the new communication culture. The question we continue to ask is whether or not Nigeria is prepared for this modern information.
Additionally, the question of the relevance of the modern information technology has been highlighted. In an attempt to tell the world and its immediate audience about the modern information technology. Bill Gate aptly posited by recalling the world of Amiral (Yamatoto of Japan. “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant” he has come. The new golden information technology is good and bad at the same time. Its bad side has encapsulated the issue of growth and development of the new culture in Nigeria and other third world society. But the implication from the simple logic are easy enough to trace abd this will fill volumes of history yet to be written. The net technology without double will still be a more powerful information tool that will ensure communication efficiency by centuries to come.
Narayara Murthy a soft Nara Mogul” put it “we have to strive for excellence, such excellence in networked society is measured in kilobits per second.
Interestingly also, it is safe to state here that the new culture in information discussion can as well be a curse and hence detrimental to the existence of western colonialism and alien rule. It might constitute security risk and that is the more reason why some countr more reason why some countries like Nigeria and other third state might have the resources to develop such technology but yet remain mute in such direction. With the present information technology, there is no longer nothing like restriction, control of freedom of expression. What the government does not want the people to know or hear for possibly the internet and survival of the state can easily obtained via the interest. The modern information technology will also affect the judicial and or legal proceeding in the court.
Charles Hynes, district Attorney quoted”, it was a real shock that they switched over to computers.
This shows that the web information technology can be used to monitor the court proceeding. This is bad as it can lead to litigation decided outside the court. The view toward the recent technology and religion is related. Hence many hold the opinion that such technology will actually change the minds of many against “God” for adoration of science and scientist. The belief of these people is that since God remains static but not dynamic, then choice is already made the new global information technology. One c an say that Nigeria needs to be in line with information technology counterparts in the race towards achieving communication efficiency. It is also interesting to note that if in all sincerity such culture and concept can lead to crisis in our total epoch, then efforts towards its development should be stalled drastically.
CONCLUSION
The Nigerian society like other diverse community very in so many ramifications. The thinking and orientation of the individual members of such society are not situation over this subject of the study.
To many Nigerians today, the country is more than prepared for the modern technology but pretends not to be so for obvious national aspirations and interest which cannot be compromised. The other group argues firmly; and strongly that Nigeria is not in any way prepared for the modern information technology. The proponent of this line of thought argues strongly based on the fact that the modern information technology demands know ledge, experience, skill, intelligence, abilities and courage which are the attributes and identical peculiarities that are often associated with majority of Nigerian people.
The Nigerian media which have a lot as regards the use of the new information technology in achieving efficiency in communication, are still flooded with half baked unqualified workers who may not even know about the modern information technology nor understand, there cannot be all the opportunity of these people to propagate further and finally towards communication and information development.
The conclusion therefore is that though it is clear that there is no phenomenon without blemishes, it is equally apt to point out that some phenomenon if positively understood can result to an unprecedented success that will stand the test of time, if only Nigeria can realize the importance of the modern information technology, understand the fact that both economic, industrial, agricultural, political, educational development all depend in information flow, then one has to put aside the argument of security of the nation as limiting factor to development of digital information technology in the country.
RECOMMENDATIONS
A sound information flow and a communication culture to John Milton is a powerful source of inspiration, greatness and inventive idea. Information is a dynamic culture, it is not static and keeps on changing as the time and society changes. This has brought man from the age of papyrus writing popularly called “gly co graphics”. The Egyptian orientation to what and where the world is today which is the digital information technology and culture.
The onus of the study was to weigh the role of modern technology in achieving communication efficiency and with it adjudge whether Nigeria is prepared for the golden information technology. The story of communication efficiency in Nigeria as regards the role of modern technology, is one that has been neglected due to the slow pace in preparation by the government and belief of some religious leaders. The perception by some quarters that the western world would continue to dominate the third world countries if they embrace the new information technology would always relegate us to the background.
A critical work testify that it is both advantageous as it is equally harmful. This is natural and without I, such technology may not be entirely worthy of discussion. In consideration of all these, the recommendation is first; that government should consider its position towards the global race towards a highly sophisticated compact information technology in the present 21st century. if government argues that the security position of the state can be jeopardized by this trend, the advice should be that government should rededicate and recommit itself, its staff and specialized agencies, working s that no one fears being connected via the net information formular. There cannot be a sound governance in the absence of an unfettered and undiluted sophisticated information technology of this period that would enhance communication efficiency.
Additional, it recommended that Nigeria government should start practically to support some information and communication culture to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. If only the government should aggressively pursue the new golden information technology without facing whether or not it will be a source of attack, the situation preparedness or other problems which will be a challenge for this study. The journey into the 21st century is gradual but steady. It cannot be changed and with it is the climax of revolution in all aspects of life of the society ie its culture, language politics, philosophy, economy, science, religion, technology vis-à-vis the social dynamics.
REFERENCES
- Anikpo Mark (1986) Foundation on social science Research a methodology guide for studies Abia Printer Enugu.
- Bye C. Lucian (1963) Communication and Political Development Princetown University Press U.S.A
- Edwin Emery (1969) Introduction to Mass communication New York Publishers Toronto.
- Edward Jay Whetmore Form, Content and Consequence of Mass Communication (third edition) Wordsworth Publishing Company Califonia
- Mackey Lan (1964) Broadcasting in Nigeria Ibadan University Press Oyo State
- Nweke, Umezurike and Nnandu (1998) Know Computer Now MICON Printer (1998) Enugu.
