Nigeria is celebrating 20 years as a democracy. Despite the fact that we became an independent nation in 1960, this is the longest stretch of uninterrupted democratic rule the country has ever witnessed.
Beyond obvious perks like freedom of speech, democracy has also ushered in an era of impressive tech developments like never before.
Below are the top 10 tech developments of the last 20 years in Nigeria that are noteworthy.
Telecom
20 years ago, Nigeria’s telecom industry was largely controlled by the state-owned NITEL. However, during the Obasanjo presidency, the telecom industry was privatised. This opened the door for entities such as MTN, Glo, MTEL, 9Mobile, and Airtel (formerly Econet/V-Mobile/Celtel) to emerge.
The privatisation of the industry ushered in a new era that reduced the cost of telephony and brought about other notable developments. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest tech developments in the last 20 years.
The Internet
The internet – and a liberalised one for that matter – is one of the biggest benefits of privatising the telecom industry. That move inadvertently led to the growth and rapid adoption of the internet in Nigeria.
In the early 2000s, access to the internet was not so widespread. A few ISPs provided internet services, and a significant number of users could only access the internet by visiting cyber cafes.
But today, the internet is ubiquitous and it has been widely adopted as telcos consistently slash the cost of data. No doubt, the internet is right up there as one of the most important tech developments in Nigeria in the 21st century.
Mobile Phones
In the 1990s, one famous Nigerian military officer was quoted as saying “telephone is not for the masses.” But he was so wrong, as 20 years into the future, mobile phones have become so important and widespread that their prices have fallen immensely. While cellphones seemed like luxury items in the early 2000s, today, you can get a good phone for less than N10,000.
And while prices have dropped, the power and capability of mobile phones have increased consistently for the last 20 years. Today, thanks to Nigeria’s democratic leanings, Nigerians are not missing out on the smartphone era.
Social Media
Social media is one of the benefits of the telecom industry. The privatization of the telecom industry led to the reduction in the price of internet data as telcos competed for greater market control. And when smartphones arrived on the scene, social media usage peaked.
Today, Nigerian access services like Facebook, Whatsapp, and Twitter easily and without regulatory interference. Now social media is crucial for social interactions, business, and following local or international events.
Satellite TV
AIT, NTA, MiTV, Galaxy TV, MBI, among others were the most popular TV stations 20 years ago. They offered Nigerians good domestic contents but also filtered international content for viewers. Nigerians, of course, wanted more.
In the last two decades, new players emerged. From Multichoice’s DStv, to FStv, HiTv, Daarsat, and now StarTimes, Nigerians have been provided with a few great options for live TV. Today, the average Nigerian TV owner can easily afford to watch international TV programming via any of these offerings.
Tech Startups
The last few years appear to be the golden age of Nigerian startups. But, in reality, startups began to emerge in Nigeria in the early 2000s. From SystemSpecs, to Interswitch, these tech companies had first mover advantage that continues to help them today. Their innovations laid the groundwork for many changes we see in the Nigerian business environment.
One thing that has stayed consistent in the last few years is the frequency with which new startups have emerged. Today, almost every industry in Nigeria has a supplementary startup.
Tech Hubs
The rise of tech startups in the 21st century Nigeria has been aided greatly by tech hubs. These include co-working environments, incubators, and startup accelerator programs. They provide support and mentoring for startups and their products. The recent growth of tech hubs has paralleled the rise of startups.
Venture Funds
20 years ago, foreign investors were highly reluctant to invest in Nigeria or provide funding for Nigerian companies. But today, things have changed. Venture funding for Nigerian tech companies has grown steadily since 2015.
Digitization of Electoral Processes
Although Nigeria is still a long way from e-voting, we have made good strides by incorporating technology into our electoral processes. For instance, the use of card readers has helped to reduce electoral malpractice during elections. We’re still way behind, but it’s a start.
Tech Transforming the Banking Sector
A generation of Nigerians remembers all too well how stressful and time-consuming banking was in the recent past. Bank branches were laughably few and the available ones used a numbers tally system to attend to customers. Simply put, banking 20 years ago was hellish.
But in 2019, the financial system and banks have witnessed huge changes. From the introduction of credit cards, to the use of ATM points, POS, and banking apps, things are easier now. And thanks to a few startups, digital banks have emerged to provide customers with a richer banking experience.
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