THE EFFECTS OF MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON THE COMMUNITY.*

Telecommunication according to Wikipedia is the transmission of signs, signals, messages, words, writings, images and sounds or information of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems. Telecommunication occurs when the exchange of information between communication participants includes the use of technology.

Telecommunications in Nigeria has been in existence since the precolonial days, but it gained much ground during Former President Obasanjo's Administration.

Every community needs the services of mobile telecommunications because of its special roles in the community.

The effects of mobile telecommunication on the community can be seen in positive and negative ways.

The positive ways include :

It makes communication easier within the community. People from far distance can receive information at a glance without being present physically. This has made jobs to be done with ease without stress.

It is also useful for serious students by using their mobile phones to learn new things. Students that have phones that are Internet compliant can easily browse through their phones and learn more about topics taught in the classrooms.

It is also a good tool for research development. People now sit at the comfort of their homes to conduct research and get solutions to the difficult tasks.

Young talents are being discovered daily through the knowledge of telecom.

Our security operatives need not to trouble themselves again to apprehend any criminals. With their mobile phones, criminals can be tracked down successfully without any stress. This is done through the availability of Internet within the community. Crimes will greatly be reduced without stress. If all well meaning individuals in the community can rise up and make sure that there is free access in their community, it will save a lot of people from unnecessary spending.

Let me quickly say this, as good as mobile telecommunications is, it also has it's shortcomings. They are:

It has greatly encouraged laziness and indolence among our youths. Most of them don't want to use their brain again. They are restless and don't have any initiative of theirs again. Instead of them to read, they are seen using their phones to play online games: a practice which has constituted a great waste of time.

Examination malpractice is fast gaining grounds because the students already know the site they will visit when examination comes. Let me state here that these students can't be successful in their actions if the older members of the community do not support them. Most of our graduates nowadays can't defend their certificates because some of them graduated through dubious means. It is a thing of shame when a graduate can't spell 'Cupboard' correctly yet such tender a result of second class upper from a reputable University.

Also mobile telecommunications has greatly encouraged the youths to visit pornographic sites. Not only that most of them have become swindlers suddenly because they are used to their phones and have also seen it as a means of livelihood. This will no doubt have effects on our community. When those that ought not to live in affluence suddenly become rich overnight, then you will agree with me that we are in serious danger.

Most of the youths that are serious before have joined these swindlers and this has produced lots of criminals.

Permit me to say that most of these ills in the society are being sponsored by our elders, because, most of them have refused to say the truth because of what they will benefit from such.

Community development is a joint effort which all must be ready to do. We all have our roles to play. We should remember that whatsoever we do today becomes history, tomorrow.

I Love You.