CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The role of modern technology in achieving communication efficiency in diverse economies and countries of the world cannot be over emphasized as the computer technology otherwise known as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become a vital information dissemination platform over the years since its advent. A great Canadian English Professor, Marshall McLuhan (1964) described the computer technology as an innovation that has changed the world into a global village by compressing the world into a single electronic room, where information from all nooks and crannies of the world can be exploited and disseminated or exchanged within a twinkle of an eye. As such, this innovation has launched the communication world into a seamless flow of information from across the globe. The World Bank defines ICTs as “the set of activities which facilitate by electronic means the processing, transmission and display of information” (Rodriguez and Wilson, 2000). ICTs refer to technologies people use to share, distribute, and gather information and to communicate through computers and computer networks (ESCAP, 2000). Also, ICT has permitted people to participate in a world in which school, work, and other activities have been increasingly enhanced by access to varied and developing technologies since 1980s and its tools have helped people find, explore, analyze, exchange and present information most importantly, without discrimination which when used efficiently, can provide quick access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures(Dakwa,2010).The application of ICT in national development can be attested to through the use of telephones, fax, telegraph, Internet etc though Internet has become the alternative most explored. ICTs, represented by the Internet deliver “at once a worldwide broadcasting capacity, which is a mechanism for information dissemination, a medium for interaction between individual market-place for goods and services (Kiiski and Pohjole, 2000). However, Ehikhamenor (1993) described this information revolution as fundamental changes in the production and use of information, occurring in the late 20th century which demands caution, especially in the face of the Internet, as it lacks the activities of the gatekeepers who can decide what information to disseminate and what not to make available for the public. Meanwhile, the new media, which the Internet is one of them, has gone a long way in bringing information to one’s doorstep. It is a known fact that journalists in Nigerian who want to report adequate information about the widest topical issues will benefit from the service of the Internet as source of gathering information and making it possible for journalists to exchange information. The Internet can also help the Nigerian journalists to peak into the daily affairs of the public without physical presence of journalists which reduces traveling and hotel accommodation cost and stress. Therefore, the impact of the Internet on journalists cannot be over emphasized for it is an essential source where journalists can access information at all times (Uche, 2005).

Communication as it may is the most popular technological activity which impact cannot be overemphasis. In view of the fact that communication by its very nature; especially in this Jet age is the product of technology. The various complex electronic advances made under the planning of some aspects of communication are nothing but Internet technology at work.  Therefore, whatever growth to be recorded in communication is a reflection of advancement in new information superhighway (Deusch land, 2000, p: 22)

          To critically examine the role of the technology in elevating communication efficiency in Nigeria, there is need to know that in the very beginning, human interaction cum communication where limited to ting hamlets where population began to increase and spread all over the surface of the earth, reaching out to people in divert area, it become a near impossibility.  Before now, factors like geographical isolation, low level of technology and unawareness of the outside world among other things combined to tractate the process of communication. Today, things have changed. The technology plus internet has revolutionized human communication to the point that one can easily be in touch with someone in a distance land in a matter of seconds. This means that the technology has weakened the apparent geographical and technological factors that tend to limit human communication. However, the entire epoch of Nigerian society is regrettable painful to all level of communication efficiency in this modern information age because, the country still limp behind in terms of technology in the world. While, in some countries like America, Germany and Britain, technology evolved and simultaneously entered into their everyday lives with a dizzying speed and a flurry of few development high speed access. And the new ways of getting services, graphic, rich interface, technology has become a part of their everyday activities. Thus, the stage in their societies has gone beyond the crude oral communication, the ancient telephone and outing postal communication, the obstacle printing press. The net technology such as the e mail, world wide web, the interface, mobile system, and computer improved services have become part and parcel of their daily lives, either in the  pursuit of their business, inclination and fastening of symphony of social relationship and brotherhood with  other. Currently, the Africa internet market environment seems to be the fastest internet environment in the world. However, the infrastructure which permits rapid long term expansion of the internet is still lacking in Africa. And Nigeria just like the least of other African nations still have the traditional causes of underdevelopment such as lack of computers, overcharging by the internet service providers at work. Also, cost of equipment, software and connecting fees is just too high in Nigeria. Paul McAuluy (2001, p: 12), submits that “the technical apartheid “continues” as feared.

       When used the words of Lee (2006, p: 4), which submits that “the power of web is in its universality access by everyone irrespective of their location, background and disability is an essential aspect”. Judging Nigeria situation, as regards its communication efficiency, it position in the third millennium, it deems it possible to say that the social, political and cultural factors in the country do not permit improvement in communication through the internet. The hackneyed and abysmal mediocrity and stark illiteracy that have continued to thrive in this nation, has given no opportunity for creativity, skill and experience, research and other things capable of engendering positivism in the information environment of this country.              

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to examine the role of modern technology in achieving communication efficiency in Nigeria. Right from the time immemorial, men have been in search of knowledge to hear and to be heard. The work of journalism has tried to simplify information gathering and dissemination but to a great extent, effective communication has been impeded by lots of factors like finance, location, time, accessibility, etc. The advent of modern technology has ushered in solution(s) to most of the challenges faced in ensuring effective communication. However, the extent at which the broadcast organization harnesses the modern technology to achieve communication efficiency remains unknown. This is the actual problem which this study investigated

Objectives of the study

The main objective of this study is to find out the impact modern technology in achieving communication efficiency in Nigeria, specifically the study intends to:

1.     Find out whether the internet has in helped in elevating commun