Twenty-five years after the introduction of GSM services in Nigeria, technology and media stakeholders have reflected on the transformation brought about by mobile communication, while calling for greater attention to people, innovation and the responsible use of digital technology.
The stakeholders made the call at the 12th edition of the eWorld Forum in Lagos, where a panel session examined the theme, “The GSM Digital Milestones: 25 Years On.”
The forum brought together industry experts and other stakeholders to assess the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and the impact of GSM on communication, businesses and various areas of the economy.
Speaking during the panel session, veteran ICT expert Chris Uwaje, popularly known as “The Oracle of ICT,” said the GSM story was fundamentally about communication, but stressed that people must remain at the centre of the digital ecosystem.
Uwaje explained that communication infrastructure provides the platform for people to create, share and access content through digital devices. He, however, emphasised the need to develop people’s capacity to communicate information that is truthful, authentic and useful.
According to him, Nigeria must continue to build innovative and resilient minds capable of adapting to a rapidly changing communication environment.
He noted that the GSM revolution had given more people a voice and helped democratise human interaction, fundamentally changing how Nigerians communicate and engage with one another.
GSM Revolution Transforms Key Sectors
Also speaking, Olaitan Ogunbiyi, Director of Operations at IHS, said the widespread availability of mobile communication had transformed several sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He identified healthcare, transportation, manufacturing and technology among the areas significantly affected by advances in telecommunications and digital technology.
Ogunbiyi traced the development of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry from the early 2G era, when internet access was largely powered by technologies such as EDGE and GPRS, which offered relatively limited speeds.
He noted that the introduction of 3G licences around 2006 marked another major stage in the sector’s development, as operators began deploying faster mobile internet services.
Uwaje
According to him, Nigeria subsequently entered the 4G era around 2016, alongside increased investment in fibre-optic infrastructure and broader improvements in connectivity.
He added that technological development remains continuous, with major transitions in the sector often occurring within periods of about eight to 10 years.
From Voice Calls to a Digital Economy
The panel discussion also examined how mobile connectivity has evolved from a service primarily associated with voice calls into a critical platform for internet access, digital services, businesses and everyday activities.
Other panelists included Ololade Saraki of Paradigm Initiative and journalist Ken Nwobo. The session was moderated by Emma Okong, ICT Editor of ThisDay Newspaper.
The discussions provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on 25 years of GSM in Nigeria, the transformation of the telecommunications industry and the growing role of digital technology in society.
As Nigeria looks ahead, the experts stressed that the next phase of digital development will depend not only on technological advancement and infrastructure, but also on human capacity, innovation, responsible digital participation and the ability to adapt to emerging technologies
Photo: l-r Emma Okonji ICT Editor, ThisDay, Ken Nwogbo, Publisher Nigerian Communication Week, Aaron Ukodie, Convener, eWorldForum and books Author, Showale Preculiar, Paradigm Initiative and Olaitan Ogunbiyi, Director of Operations at IHS
