THE PROS AND CONS OF TELECOMMUNICATION AS A CATALYST

FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Telecommunication is used to refer to the technology of producing, storing,

sending, and retrieving digital files, signals and messages characterized by a
continuous action of processing data, producing output(information) and sending
them over long distances by telephone, satellite, television, etc:
There has been an ongoing debate regarding the role Telecommunication
play in economic development in Nigeria. One may ask; in what ways can
Telecommunication be a merit or demerit to catalyzing Economic Development in
Nigeria? This paper examines the current environment and attempts to answer the
question.
Telecommunication play a critical role not only in facilitating countries but
also in sustaining national economy in the medium to long term, it has proven to be
a key enabler of socio-economic progress and development, enhancing
productivity and improving living standards. Equally importantly,
Telecommunication has proven instrumental for enabling development and
middle-income economies to leapfrog to higher stage of development. On the other
hand, the effects of telecommunication are being felt not only in the Nigerian home
but also at the work places. The extraordinary capacity of telecommunication to
drive growth and innovation when overlooked can stand as a platform for
alteration in human behaviors, norms and tradition