Nigeria: Communication – SS1 Geography Lesson Note (Third Term)

What is communication?

Communication is the exchange of information, ideas and messages between people, groups or places.

• Sender: the person or group that starts the message.
• Message: the information, idea or instruction being passed on.
• Medium: the channel used, such as a phone call, a letter, a radio or a newspaper.
• Receiver: the person or group that gets the message.
• Feedback: the reply that tells the sender the message was understood.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define communication.
2. Name the main communication networks in Nigeria and give examples of each.
3. State the advantages and disadvantages of mobile networks, ISPs, satellite communication and the press and print media.
4. Identify the problems of communication in Nigeria.
5. Suggest solutions to these problems.

What are the forms of communication?

There are three forms of communication: verbal, written and visual.

• Verbal: messages passed by speaking, as in a phone call, a radio talk or a town meeting.
• Written: messages put in writing, as in letters, text messages, emails and newspapers.
• Visual: messages shown with pictures, signs or video, as in road signs, photographs and television.

What are the communication networks in Nigeria?

There are four main communication networks in Nigeria: mobile networks, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), satellite communication, and press and print media.

What are mobile networks?

Mobile networks are companies that provide phone and mobile data services through masts and wireless signals.

• Examples: MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile.
• Coverage: they serve the whole country, supporting connectivity, business and social life.

Advantages of mobile networks

1. Widespread accessibility: coverage is extensive, even in many remote areas.
2. Convenience: mobile phones give easy and quick communication.
3. Mobile banking: many networks offer banking services, which promotes financial inclusion.

Disadvantages of mobile networks

1. Network congestion: at peak hours or in crowded areas, calls may drop and data may be slow.
2. Power dependency: phones need charging, which is hard where electricity supply is irregular.

What are Internet Service Providers (ISPs)?

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that supplies broadband and internet access to homes and businesses.

• Swiftt Networks: provides broadband using wireless and fibre-optic technologies.
• Spectranet: offers high-speed broadband to homes and businesses using wireless and fibre-optic infrastructure.
• Smile Communications Nigeria: another major provider.
• Cobranet: another major provider.
• IPNX Nigeria Limited: another major provider.

Advantages of ISPs

1. Broadband access: high-speed internet supports data-heavy activities.
2. Connectivity options: options such as DSL, cable and fibre suit different users.
3. Business solutions: dedicated internet connections make business services more reliable.

Disadvantages of ISPs

1. Limited coverage: high-speed internet is mostly in urban areas, so rural regions have less connectivity.
2. Infrastructure challenges: poor infrastructure causes slow speeds and service breaks.

What is satellite communication?

Satellite communication is the sending of signals to and from satellites in space, which gives connectivity where ground infrastructure is limited.

• Satellite internet services: internet access delivered through satellites.
• Telecommunications and broadcasting: carries phone, radio and television signals.
• VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) systems: small dishes that link a site to a satellite.
• Global connectivity: links Nigeria with other countries.
• Agricultural and environmental monitoring: satellites help observe land, crops and weather.
• Military and national security: supports secure communication and surveillance.

Advantages of satellite communication

1. Global coverage: it reaches remote and isolated areas.
2. Disaster recovery: it can keep working during natural disasters, so communication continues.

Disadvantages of satellite communication

1. High costs: setting up and maintaining satellite systems is expensive.
2. Signal latency: signals may be delayed, which affects real-time communication.

What are the press and print media?

The press and print media are the newspapers, magazines and related outlets that spread news and information to the public.

• Newspapers: The Guardian, ThisDay, Vanguard, Punch, The Nation and others.
• Magazines: periodicals on news, lifestyle, business and other subjects.
• Online media: news websites and digital editions of newspapers.
• Journalism associations: bodies of journalists that support the profession.

Advantages of press and print media

1. Information: they carry news, information and analysis, so citizens are informed.
2. Awareness: they raise awareness of social issues, government policies and current events, which encourages civic responsibility.
3. Diverse views: many newspapers and magazines give readers a range of opinions.
4. Culture: they promote and preserve Nigerian culture, traditions and heritage.
5. Accountability: investigative reporting holds officials and institutions to account, which supports transparency and good governance.
6. Advertising: businesses reach a wide audience, which supports trade and market growth.

Disadvantages of press and print media

1. Limited rural reach: circulation is low in rural areas, so residents have less access to information.
2. Economic challenges: many outlets face falling advertising income and rising competition from digital platforms.
3. Low interactivity: readers cannot give immediate feedback as they can on digital media.
4. Press freedom limits: censorship, harassment and legal threats can restrict journalists.
5. Environmental concerns: making paper can cause deforestation, and printed copies create waste.
6. Digital competition: more readers now get news from online sources.

What are the problems of communication in Nigeria and their solutions?

The main problems of communication in Nigeria are linguistic diversity, inadequate infrastructure, low literacy rates and cultural variations.

What are the problems of communication in Nigeria?

• Linguistic diversity: Nigeria has many languages, so people from different areas may not understand one another.
• Inadequate infrastructure: weak networks, masts and power supply cause poor signals and service breaks.
• Low literacy rates: people who cannot read or write find newspapers, letters and text messages hard to use.
• Cultural variations: different customs and beliefs can cause misunderstanding of messages.

What are the solutions to communication problems in Nigeria?

1. Promote a lingua franca: a common language such as English helps people from different groups to understand one another.
2. Invest in communication infrastructure: build more masts, fibre links and power supply, especially in rural areas.
3. Improve education: adult education and better schools raise literacy.
4. Encourage cultural sensitivity: awareness campaigns and cross-cultural training teach people to respect other cultures.
5. Use technology: remote communication tools reach people in distant places.
6. Improve media accessibility: radio, television and newspapers in local languages reach more people.

How do the problems match their solutions?

Evaluation

1. Define communication.
2. Name four communication networks in Nigeria.
3. State two advantages and two disadvantages of mobile networks.
4. List three disadvantages of press and print media in Nigeria.
5. State the problems of communication in Nigeria.

Assignment

1. Name four problems of communication in Nigeria and give one solution to each.