Technology: 7 ways internet has changed the life of Nigerians since gaining independence

Nigeria has had her fair share of positive technology impact and could be said to be better off because of it.

Technology has become a major part of our lives today post-independence with the coming of telecommunication service providers, mobile phones and the internet.

Phone calls and Short Message Services (SMS) were introduced, before internet data bundles brought on instant messaging, voice over internet and video calls, and so much more.

But surely there was life before this, ways Nigerians were communicating majorly with one another. As history tells us, communication there was more of a face-to-face type, except when distance became a barrier, then the postal agencies would become the go-to place.

 

 

Public announcements Town criers prevalently in Yoruba land were used to pass across important public messages in the villages - our local home videos showed us clips of this a great deal. However with the internet, Nigerians now get their news feed on their mobile devices through social media sites, blogs and websites among other internet enabled platforms.

 

 

Love messages Among the youthful love birds which consist of students and young adults, love letters was predominant which would be sent through a messenger to its recipient.

 

 

Entertainment – Vinyl records and transistor radios were the in-thing pre-independence, to listen to music before the internet brought streaming services much later on.  Movies also are now streamed

 

Multi-tasking There was no really not quite much multi-tasking done as is the norm when using mobile phones and laptops nowadays. Nigerians would read a book or listen to music on cassette player, focusing on one thing a time.

But with the internet now, you can stream music while also reading an e-book or a web page for educational or entertainment purpose as you like.

Job creation

 

The internet and technology has also created jobs that were otherwise not possible before, from social media managers to SEO specialists and mobile apps developers among others.

For trade, cowries obtained from the shells of snails was the currency used in Nigeria, particularly during the slave trade era, and coins as well before technology made it available for facilitates transfer of money via banking mobile apps and other internet-enabled transfer services.

 

For transportation In Nigeria, movement of people and goods were quite organized then, and though the system is having its challenges, the advent of the internet has made transport easier in some ways such as what  we can see with on-demand ride services aided by an  internet connection where a Nigerian  can order rides via his smartphone with a few clicks.

Nigeria has had her fair share of positive technology impact and could be said to be better off because of it.

Interestingly, there is more to be witnessed in the coming generations.

SOURCE - PULSE.NG posted by Campus94