Technext Technext
  • Home
  • Stories
    • Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria’s Travel Ban
      Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria’s Travel Ban
      15 hours ago 0
      62
    • Nigerians React as NRC Launches N900 million Railway e-Ticketing Platform
      Nigerians React as NRC Launches N900 million Railway e-Ticketing Platform
      17 hours ago 0
      113
    • Alphabet Shuts down Balloon-powered Internet in Kenya Months after its Launching
      Alphabet Shuts down Balloon-powered Internet in Kenya Months after its Launching
      19 hours ago 0
      34
    • Google Search And Facebook News Could Leave Australia if Forced to Pay News Publishers
      Google Search And Facebook News Could Leave Australia if Forced to Pay News Publishers
      20 hours ago 0
      48
    • Movie Review: ‘Outside the Wire’ is an Explosive Action Thriller Showing the Dangers of Sentient AI
      Movie Review: ‘Outside the Wire’ is an Explosive Action Thriller Showing the Dangers of Sentient AI
      2 days ago 0
      81
    • Here Are 5 Major Tech Events that Happened With Joe Biden’s Inauguration
      Here Are 5 Major Tech Events that Happened With Joe Biden’s Inauguration
      2 days ago 0
      73
    • Covid-19 Update: FG Against Jan 18 School Resumption, Nigeria Readies Freezers for Vaccines
      Covid-19 Update: FG Against Jan 18 School Resumption, Nigeria Readies Freezers for Vaccines
      2 days ago 0
      111
    • Sell it or Repurpose it, Here are 5 Things You Could do With your Old Gadgets and Devices
      Sell it or Repurpose it, Here are 5 Things You Could do With your Old Gadgets and Devices
      2 days ago 0
      91
    • You Can’t Get Your NIN Slip Through the NIMC App but Here are 3 Things You Can Do With it
      You Can’t Get Your NIN Slip Through the NIMC App but Here are 3 Things You Can Do With it
      3 days ago 0
      154
  • Features
    • Sell it or Repurpose it, Here are 5 Things You Could do With your Old Gadgets and Devices
      Sell it or Repurpose it, Here are 5 Things You Could do With your Old Gadgets and Devices
      2 days ago 0
      91
    • 5 Tips to Make Your Business More Popular on Social Media
      5 Tips to Make Your Business More Popular on Social Media
      1 week ago 0
      207
    • Analysts Forecast Bitcoin to Hit $100k in 2021, But is This Really a Good Time to Start Buying?
      Analysts Forecast Bitcoin to Hit $100k in 2021, But is This Really a Good Time to Start Buying?
      2 weeks ago 0
      369
    • Top 5 Most In-Demand Tech Jobs for 2021 — and Skills Required for them
      Top 5 Most In-Demand Tech Jobs for 2021 — and Skills Required for them
      2 weeks ago 0
      427
    • Financial Strategies for Surviving 2021 with Ayo Akinmade, Vice Chairman, Regus
      Financial Strategies for Surviving 2021 with Ayo Akinmade, Vice Chairman, Regus
      3 weeks ago 0
      393
    • ‘Expect Aggressive Expansion in 2021’- PlentyWaka’s Johnny Enagwolor on Surviving 2020 and What the Future Holds
      ‘Expect Aggressive Expansion in 2021’- PlentyWaka’s Johnny Enagwolor on Surviving 2020 and What the Future Holds
      3 weeks ago 0
      442
    • After a Poor 2020, Here are the Top Cinema Trends to Watch Out for in 2021
      After a Poor 2020, Here are the Top Cinema Trends to Watch Out for in 2021
      3 weeks ago 0
      391
  • Reviews
    • Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria’s Travel Ban
      Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria’s Travel Ban
      15 hours ago 0
      62
    • Movie Review: ‘Outside the Wire’ is an Explosive Action Thriller Showing the Dangers of Sentient AI
      Movie Review: ‘Outside the Wire’ is an Explosive Action Thriller Showing the Dangers of Sentient AI
      2 days ago 0
      81
    • You Can’t Get Your NIN Slip Through the NIMC App but Here are 3 Things You Can Do With it
      You Can’t Get Your NIN Slip Through the NIMC App but Here are 3 Things You Can Do With it
      3 days ago 0
      154
    • Netflix Surpasses 200 Million Subscribers, Says It no Longer Needs External Financing
      Netflix Surpasses 200 Million Subscribers, Says It no Longer Needs External Financing
      3 days ago 0
      105
    • With Growing Interest in Forex Trading, Here are 5 Best Forex Brokers in Nairaland, Nigeria
      With Growing Interest in Forex Trading, Here are 5 Best Forex Brokers in Nairaland, Nigeria
      3 days ago 0
      109
    • Kenya Overtakes Nigeria as Africa’s Favorite Investment Destination
      Kenya Overtakes Nigeria as Africa’s Favorite Investment Destination
      4 days ago 0
      247
    • App Review: Omomi Gives Mothers and Guardians Access to Excellent Child Healthcare
      App Review: Omomi Gives Mothers and Guardians Access to Excellent Child Healthcare
      4 days ago 0
      98
  • Women in Tech
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
Go to...

    20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria

    Idris AbubakarIdris Abubakar
    June 12, 2019
    20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria

    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.

    20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria

    The rise of telecom services in Nigeria

    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.

    20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria

    The internet is now ubiquitous in Nigeria. Source: National Bus Extra

    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.

    20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria

    Satellite TV has become a part of Nigerian life over the last 20 years.

    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.

    20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria

    Nigerian Startup, RecyclePoints

    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.


    If you’d like to get featured on our Entrepreneur Spotlight, click here to share your startup story with us.


    SUBSCRIBE

    Get latest Technology news, reviews, business-related content with a deliberate emphasis on the African narrative and insightful analysis in Nigeria – straight to your inbox.


    Comments

    Share :
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Pinterest
    • Linkedin
    • Email
    Idris Abubakar

    Idris Abubakar

    Abubakar Idris has interests in all things web, business and tech innovations. I write to inform.

    10 Notable Nigerian Tech Companies that Existed Before Democratic Rule and Continue to Thrive Today
    Next article
    10 Notable Nigerian Tech Companies that Existed Before Democratic Rule and Continue to Thrive Today
    In Just Two Weeks John Wick 3 Has Grossed N100m From Nigerian Moviegoers
    Previous article
    In Just Two Weeks John Wick 3 Has Grossed N100m From Nigerian Moviegoers

    Related Posts

    • Reviews, Stories 15 hours ago

      Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria's Travel Ban

      Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria’s Travel Ban
      Stories 17 hours ago

      Nigerians React as NRC Launches N900 million Railway e-Ticketing Platform

      Nigerians React as NRC Launches N900 million Railway e-Ticketing Platform
      Stories 19 hours ago

      Alphabet Shuts down Balloon-powered Internet in Kenya Months after its Launching

      Alphabet Shuts down Balloon-powered Internet in Kenya Months after its Launching
    • Stories 20 hours ago

      Google Search And Facebook News Could Leave Australia if Forced to Pay News Publishers

      Google Search And Facebook News Could Leave Australia if Forced to Pay News Publishers
      Reviews, Stories 2 days ago

      Movie Review: 'Outside the Wire' is an Explosive Action Thriller Showing the Dangers of Sentient AI

      Movie Review: ‘Outside the Wire’ is an Explosive Action Thriller Showing the Dangers of Sentient AI
      Stories 2 days ago

      Here Are 5 Major Tech Events that Happened With Joe Biden's Inauguration

      Here Are 5 Major Tech Events that Happened With Joe Biden’s Inauguration

    Bitcoin Recent Prices

    Brandest

    Sign up for Newsletters

    Popular News

    • Is TikTok Really a Parasitic Platform as Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Claims?
      Is TikTok Really a Parasitic Platform as Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Claims?
      11 months ago 0
    • Keke Payments App, KePay Looks Pretty Cool But Came Way Ahead of its Time
      Keke Payments App, KePay Looks Pretty Cool But Came Way Ahead of its Time
      January 17, 2019 0
    • Opay Users Outraged as the Opera Super App in Nigeria Begins Deducting ‘High’ Charges Unannounced
      Opay Users Outraged as the Opera Super App in Nigeria Begins Deducting 'High' Charges Unannounced
      November 6, 2019 0
    • Austin Okere to Deliver Keynote Address at the 2017 FATE Foundation Annual Celebration
      Austin Okere to Deliver Keynote Address at the 2017 FATE Foundation Annual Celebration
      November 30, 2017 0
    • AfriLabs Membership Rises as 5 Nigerian Tech Hubs, Others Join Network
      AfriLabs Membership Rises as 5 Nigerian Tech Hubs, Others Join Network
      October 9, 2018 0

    Follow Us

    Latest Tweets

    • technextdotng New post: Global Tech Roundup: President Biden Reverses Nigeria's Travel Ban https://t.co/EtzSZ23epd
      about 14 hours ago
    • technextdotng @Google has announced that its Google Search will no longer be available in Australia if it is forced to start payi… https://t.co/YS4mhCqm7s
      about 15 hours ago
    • technextdotng 72.8% of our voters opt to give out their old devices or go with the flow of things. What do you do? #Smartphone… https://t.co/XOf5MNU9rz
      about 15 hours ago
    • technextdotng New post: Nigerians React as NRC Launches N900 million Railway e-Ticketing Platform https://t.co/BhWojpcGGw
      about 16 hours ago

    Instagram

    technextdotng

    Technext.ng is the go-to site for news, reviews and insightful analysis in the Nigerian tech space.
    http://ow.ly/ayTM30mSlGS

    72.8% of our voters opt to give out their old devi 72.8% of our voters opt to give out their old devices or go with the flow of things.

What do you do?
#Smartphone #gadget #Polls
    Top App Downloads in Africa (2020) 1. Egypt - 2.3 Top App Downloads in Africa (2020)
1. Egypt - 2.3 billion
2. S/Africa - 680 million
3. Nigeria - 640 million

Read more at technext.ng
#Payments #Africa #Fintech #Finance #Innovation #Technology #Nigeria #SouthAfrica #Egypt #Consumer #Kenya #Report #Gaming #Gamers
    Highest In-app Spending in Africa (2020) 1. S/Afri Highest In-app Spending in Africa (2020)
1. S/Africa - $210 million
2. Egypt - $120 million
3. Nigeria - $60 million

Read more at technext.ng
#Payments #Africa #Fintech #Finance #Innovation #Technology #Nigeria #SouthAfrica #Egypt #Consumer #Kenya #MobileApp #App
    According to our latest poll results, the ride hai According to our latest poll results, the ride hailing battle in Nigeria is still between Uber and Bolt, with both clinching 77.8% of the votes.

#RideHailing #Nigeria #Polls
    Happy birthday to the in-house "techie", @Tommy_bl Happy birthday to the in-house "techie", @Tommy_blanc.
Best wishes from all of us at Technext. @te

#WeAreTechnext #HappyBirthday
    RIP David Ntekim. Our thoughts are with your famil RIP David Ntekim.
Our thoughts are with your family.

#Tribute #RIP
    Load More... Follow on Instagram

    Random News

    • 20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria
      20 Years of Democracy: Top 10 Tech Developments That Have Changed The Game In Nigeria
      June 12, 2019 0

      Nigeria is celebrating 20 years as a democracy. Despite the fact that we became an independent nation in 1960, this ...

      Read More
    Copyright 2020 technext.ng | Privacy Policy | Media Policy