It’s noteworthy that several Nigerians have been made to believe that the Fifth Generation (5G) is nothing but a dead zone targeted to consume the entire human race.

In other climes, most Nigerians are of the notion that the said network is just a politically-motivated missile meant to override the country’s socio-political space.

One inevitable fact we, as a people, must embrace is that technology has come to stay not just in Nigeria but across the global community, hence anyone who makes an effort to tag it a monster is really taking himself aback. Though it has done several wrongs, the rights emanating from its existence remain innumerable.

On the above note, it’s very pertinent and crucial to fully comprehend the meaning and essence of the 5G network. As the acronym implies, it’s a 5th Generation mobile network. It is dedicated to handle a much larger role than that of the already existing ones such as the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G networks, respectively.

5G was introduced to elevate the mobile network to not only interconnect people, but equally interconnect and control machines, objects, or any form of devices. It’s meant to deliver new levels of performance and efficiency that would empower new user experiences and connect new industries.

The 5G network is meant to deliver multi-Gbps peak rates or faster speeds, ultra-low latency, massive capacity, coupled with more uniform user experience. It’s imperative to note that the 1G was designed to solely deliver analog voice, 2G for digital voice, 3G necessitated mobile data, whilst the 4G ushered in the era of mobile internet, which we are currently enjoying.

In summary, 5G is a new kind of network in the telecom sector. It’s a platform for innovations that won’t only enhance today’s mobile broadband services, but equally expand mobile networks to support a vast diversity of devices and services, as well as connect new industries with improved performance, efficiency and cost.

5G is, therefore, an advanced wireless technology that has begun wide deployment since 2019. It’s worth noting that, as at October 2019, over four million Koreans had access to the 5G network.

It’s equally amazing to comprehend that China has for long deployed over 100,000 base stations in her quest for 5G wide usage. Survey revealed that about 150 million 5G mobile subscribers were expected in the Asian country by 2020.

Leading international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), alongside various independent medical experts, have confirmed that the deployment of 5G networks leave no adverse health effects and are safe.

It’s noteworthy that several countries have already commenced the deployment of 5G and are currently enjoying its numerous benefits. Some of these countries include the United Kingdom, United States, and Korea Republic, to mention but a few. Even on the African Continent, countries like South Africa and Lesotho have equally keyed in. This information is verifiable.

Technically speaking, reliable research indicates that the 5G network offers significant advantages over the current technologies. Some of its advantages include, but not limited to, much lower latency, higher bandwidth, greater device density, longer battery life for nodes and greater network flexibility.

On the other hand, the 5G network operates in a high-frequency band of the wireless spectrum, between 28 and 60 Gigahertz (GHz). It’s expected to add unlicensed frequencies such as the 3.5 GHz to its list of new frequencies for mobile use. This means a lot of bandwidth would be available to the teeming users.

The aforementioned factor signifies that the 5G won’t only boost ease of communication among telecom subscribers but equally expand the economic band or prospect of any country involved.

Since the 5G mobile network will soon apparently dominate the global telecom sector, Nigeria as an entity must therefore not act in abeyance than to concentrate on how best an effective and efficient 5G can be duly introduced and utilized in the Nigerian space.

As Nigeria, likewise other developing countries, is still trial-testing her technologies and securities toward creating and launching a wholesome environment for the 5G network, she must acknowledge the key parameters that require apt consideration and attention.

At such a time like this, the authorities imbued with the powers to regulate and manage the telecom space must concentrate on the intricacies surrounding the technicalities and securities of the 5G network towards ensuring it isn’t hijacked by men of the underworlds.

They must, therefore, deploy the needed expertise and mechanism to avert any form of criminalities likely to emerge thereof. This very aspect, which is very crucial and inevitable, might require suitable legislation.

More so, it would interest – or perhaps shock you – to realize that over 70% of Nigerians are presently yet to key into the Fourth Generation (4G) Network, let alone the 5G. This is the reason the concerned bodies need to speed up action on awareness and sensitization.

5G has conspicuously come to stay, hence we must focus seriously on how to embrace and welcome it. But mind you, this cannot aptly be done if the needful isn’t duly considered.

Hence, as Nigeria’s government is making efforts to fully introduce the services of the 5G network into the country, all needed parameters must be duly considered.

Every discerning mind across the globe seriously prays for succession, because it is one of the basic features of progress. An individual or entity can only boast of progression when a new thing belonging to them emerges at intervals to their delight.

It’s appalling and pathetic to realize that in contemporary Nigerian society, most individuals or groups still depend on ancient ways of doing things in a century that has boldly and proudly welcomed a modern pattern of living or operation.

It becomes more disturbing and disheartening when observed that most people who address themselves as ‘professionals’ still make use of this crude pattern that ordinarily ought have been eroded by the emergence of the ‘digital age’.

It’s noteworthy that the modern/digital age is synonymous with technology. Hence, for anyone to be fully part of the contemporary society, he/she must integrate him/herself into the tech world.

Individually or as a group, we must be ready to duly embrace this modern system of living in our respective fields of endeavour. We mustn’t continue to dwell in a retrogressive approach while addressing any plight that arises.

Nigeria as a country, in various areas of her economy, these crude measures are invariably deployed. On a daily basis, most sectors within the shores of the country suffer great neglect or ineptitude as a result of inability of the concerned authorities to imbibe modern methodology.

In the mining sector, for example, several solid minerals such as gemstones, metals and what have you, are bound in different quarters of the Nigerian State. But most times, these minerals are still being dug from the earth crust via the use of crude techniques.

Also, owing to lack of mechanized techniques, whenever the minerals are acquired from the ground, they would be exported to the foreign nations as raw materials because they can’t be readily processed here. In the long run, the citizens would end up purchasing foreign-made products that ordinarily, should have been produced in the country. Such a practice is a shame, to assert the least, hence calls for a due review from the relevant bodies.

Even the oil and gas sector, where the country currently relies on, is experiencing such colossal neglect. The citizenry consistently purchases fuel and allied products, which were processed overseas, because the country lacks the required mechanized system known as refinery to carry out the processing as soon as they are drilled.

The agricultural sector isn’t left out. The country’s farmers, particularly the commercial ones, still participate in farming via crude patterns. The four major segments in the agric wing, namely, cultivation, harvest, processing and storage, are yet to be fully carried out with the aid of a mechanized system.

A particular farm produce, when aptly processed, could provide a variety of foods in the markets or on the table. It’s worth noting that many of the products possess this fantastic quality. But, regrettably, it’s often being exported as a single commodity, thereby causing the country to lose several millions of naira on a regular basis.

Nigeria’s education and health sectors are also suffering from this plight or phenomenon. The old ways of teaching or impaction of knowledge are still being deployed in the various citadels of learning therein. That’s the reason most of the students are yet, or still finding it difficult, to key into the Information Technology (IT) world.

In most hospitals or health centres across the federation, outdated instruments cum laboratory equipment still dominate the arena, hence making it impossible for the practitioners to perform their duties effectively and efficiently as required.

What about the country’s public service system? It’s indeed saddening that a sector of this kind, that’s densely characterized with highly learned individuals, is still dwelling in the past. Just a peep into the said domain would make you gush fathomless tears.

The list is obviously endless as regards the sectors that still adore the crude pattern of operation within the shores of the country. This is why the governments must act fast and genuinely if they are truly ready to get it right or move in the more deserved direction.

Though the choice is theirs, they must comprehend that as long as this custom lingers, they will continue to deprive themselves of a milestone that’s liable to positively turn the country’s economy around in its entirety. This is the reason actions are required to be expedited without further ado.

The situation has conspicuously gone out of hand that a stringent measure is needed towards addressing it headlong. The deplorable state of Nigeria’s various institutions and sectors, due to the continual use of crude pattern, is seriously in need of a candid and strict approach if she must progress headlong.

It’s high time the existing orientation is changed by facing the realities of the day squarely at all cost. The leaders need to unequivocally challenge themselves by understanding that technology has come to stay, hence ought to be seen as the only pattern in vogue.

They must key into the most reigning and acceptable methods by jettisoning the ones that are obsolete, or have been overtaken by events, by throwing them into the waste bin where they rightly belong. This is the only and best way the country can forge ahead for the good of all.

There should be strong legislation regarding this clarion call. There’s need for a comprehensive legislative backing with a view to fully embracing tech-driven policies and measures in most of the country’s public sectors. This will surely go a long way in tackling the menace.

It’s even amusing, and shocking too, to realize that the country’s legislative chambers still deliberate their plenaries with the aid of mere crude methodology. It’s painful to acknowledge that, at the moment, the institutions that are constitutionally imbued with the powers to come up with the required legal backing as proposed above are yet to embrace modern techniques or mechanized pattern. It’s really astonishing, to say the least.

We can only end this glaring self-deceit by understanding that the benefits inherent in any technologically-approach system are unquantifiable, thus cannot be overemphasized. It enables work to be done so easily and swiftly, thereby saving time, energy, cost, and what have you.

In different quarters, it has been reliably proven that systems that are tech-driven or mechanized often boast of greater efficiency in performance, productivity strength, and output, among others. More so, it has been observed to be result-oriented when compared to the crude ones.

Even though you would spend more funds to acquire – or migrate to – a mechanized system, the interesting truth remains that in the long run, you stand to make several more millions of the money invested. This is a fact we must embrace in earnest.

It’s high time Nigerians made their ancestors proud by swiftly keying into the modernized pattern that has all it takes to excel.

Welcome selected Michael Okpara University of Agriculture’s Anglican Students Fellowship members to Tekedia CollegeBoost. Tekedia Institute treasures the opportunity to co-learn with you  all on the mechanics of markets and business systems. We thank Prof Dennis Ikpe of Michigan State University, United States of America, for funding these scholarships. Thank you Professor.

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