How Technology is Impacting Nigeria

As humans, we have embraced the digital world, welcoming it with open arms. It has fundamentally shifted the way that we live, work, and think. Technology, like the advancement of the Internet, has made accessibility and shareability of information, ideas, and business transactions much easier.

It is no different in Nigeria, where new tech innovations are helping the West African country to gain ground and start to get noticed by the rest of the world. In this article, we will look at some of the ways that Nigeria has and will be impacted by these developments.

Evolution of 5G

Providing faster data transmission speeds, usage for innovations such as self-driving cars, smart cities, and augmented reality (AR), and an upgrade in mobile experience for consumers – 5G is tearing up the tech scene. Nigeria has jumped on this increase in bandwidth, in the hope it will provide opportunities to accelerate growth and smart living across the country.

Industries in Nigeria, such as e-commerce platforms and fintech (financial technologies), will benefit hugely from the 5G network. The digital economy, which is one of the sectors in Nigeria that has already been making some groundbreaking achievements, will be strengthened and improved by the deployment of 5G despite the myriad of problems the country is faced with.

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, wants the network to be used to help tackle insecurity, which is a constant threat in Nigeria. Ideas such as the use of 5G to operate drones to survey dangerous areas of the country, or effective deployment of robotics and the use of AR are all suggestions to help fight the security threats.

Gaming and Gambling

Over the past five years, a mix of technology advancement and an enthusiastic youth has led to a growth of the gaming industry. Various gaming startups are emerging around Europe and Asia, and Nigeria’s tech sector is slowly learning from them and adapting itself.

With the rise of online casinos, it was only a matter of time until the market reached Nigeria. And while there are currently no online casinos based in Nigeria – players must search for the best online casinos based in other countries – the Nigerian government does not have any restrictions on online gaming for its citizens. The speed of the Internet and improvement of technology, like available mobile devices, has led to more Nigerians being able to access these games more readily and easily, perhaps suggesting that a stronger legislation is in need.

Job Creation

Due to Nigeria’s large population and high levels of unemployment, there is a huge need and demand for jobs. The growth of technology has helped to partially manage this issue. Directly responsible for creating millions of jobs, the ICT sector is one of the largest employers of labor in the country. According to the NCC (Nigeria Communications Commission), this sector has provided about 2.5 million jobs over the last 10 years.

Artificial Intelligence

While the artificial intelligence (AI) industry is still in its infancy in Nigeria, it is expected to grow steadily over the upcoming years. The idea is that it will boost the economy and change lives for the better, by assisting innovative ways of planning and working by creating new jobs, augmenting existing ones, and entirely replacing others.

Another area that AI would revolutionize is the healthcare sector. Linking up to 5G would allow AI tools to determine potential diagnoses and decide on the best treatment plans going forward, meaning the provision of better care in hospitals and clinics.

There are challenges that the AI industry faces though, such as the lack of funding for research, few incentives for private companies to invest in the field, and a lack of skilled manpower for the varying roles within the industry. Experts need to work out how to make more money from this new technology and sufficiently train people to use the resources effectively.

Final Words

In an ever-evolving country, the advancement of technology is highly beneficial. Not only does it improve the Nigerian economy, but it is also sets to improve the overall standard of living. However, to keep pace with the rest of the world, Nigeria needs to keep pushing its tech innovations onwards and upwards.