Communication is the process by which meaningful information is transferred from one person or place to another. It is the act of sharing ideas, facts, opinions, thoughts, messages or emotions with other people.
Communication is a two-way process, where the interchange of messages connects the sender and receiver.
Communication Networks in Nigeria:
Telecommunication in Nigeria consists of networks which are run by different companies. The major communication networks include radio, television, postal services, mass media, mobile networks, the internet, satellite and courier services.
Let’s discuss the various communication networks:
1. Radio:
Radio as a means of communication started developing in Nigeria in 1933. In 1951 radio organization was made official in Nigeria, within a short period of time, radio stations were established in Ibadan, Ilorin, Sokoto and other areas.
Between 1956 and 1978, major changes were made which gave rise to the establishment of Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Voice of Nigeria (VON), and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
We also have private radio stations which have been in existence since 1994, and in 1996 international transmission was made available.
In Nigeria presently, we have many radio stations owned by The Federal Government, many private radio stations, many short wave stations and many online radio stations. However, the biggest among them is the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
Some of the radio broadcasting stations in Nigeria include Cool FM, Wazobia, Ray Power, Capital FM, Aso Radio, Choice FM, etc.
2. Television in Nigeria:
The first television companies in Nigeria were owned by the government. In 1962, the three regions and the federal government in Nigeria had one television station, but as of 1977, the rise of new states gave room for more regional television stations. In 977, the popularly known Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Originally known as Nigerian Television (NTV), was established by the Federal government.
Nowadays, there are many private television authorities in federal, state and private stations in Nigeria, including satellite and cable subscriptions.
3. Global System for Mobile Communication:
We have many mobile networks, in Nigeria like 9mobile, MTN Nigeria, Airtel, etc. which are provided by the telecommunication industry.
4. Internet:
The internet is an electronic communications network that connects computer networks and organizational computer facilities around the world. There are internet providers in Nigeria today such as; Spectranet Nigeria, Cobranet Limited, Smile Nigeria, Swift Network Limited and IPWX Nigeria Limited.
5. Postal services:
These are services concerned with the clearance, sorting, routing and delivery of postal items. It involves both postal and payment services to the public through the post office. There are different types of postal services which include ordinary letters, parcel posts, registered letters, express letters, private boxes and bags, business reply services, recorded delivery, etc.
Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) controls postal services in Nigeria. NIPOST is a government-owned and operated corporation There are other non-government postal services in Nigeria like DHL, UPS, EFEX etc.
6. Press & Print Media:
There are press and print media like newspapers e.g. Guardian, The Sun, Punch, etc.
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