THE IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ENUGU STATE
ABSTRACT
The essence of this study is to determine the impacts of electronic systems in the economic development of Enugu State, and the impacts of electronic systems in the promotion of information technology and economic development in Enugu State. The major roles of information technology equipment such as Computers, video camera, satellites, camera, television and radio sets; and to discover possible challenges and factors that finder the (ESBS), Enugu State Broadcasting Service and other radio houses in the discharge of their duties for effective and quality service delivery in the state and the nation at large. The researchers adopted the simple opinion survey design. In this type of design in which a group of people or items are selected and studied by collecting and analyzing data from only a few people or items considered to be representatives of the entire group. Four research questions were asked and the population consisted of one hundred and fifty (150) staff the ESBS and AIT Agu Ebor Hill, Enugu. Data collected were analyzed using the mean. It was found that the television and the radio are the commonest and the cheapest and all-purpose mass communication with basic importance and purposes. And that the introduction of electronic systems improves broadcasting and worldwide education and economic trade in the State. It was concluded that among other things, the improvement and development of electronic systems promote information technology and globalization which consequently promote international communications. The researches recommended among other things that the stations should endeavour to create and develop the informational system for the self servicing interests of the information elite and most importantly, reform efforts in the system should incorporate efforts to adequately involve professional and qualified personnels for quality service delivery in the system.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Universally, people have used development as another word for either or all of the following forms: Industrialization Modernization, Technological Advancement. Whenever we talk about development the first thing that comes to our minds are such structural edifices as skyscrapers, cars, electronic gadgets, and the like. Today social scientists would hesitate to endorse such a narrow view of development, not with the failure of science and technology to redeem man and his society. In the words of Schumacher (2003); development does not start with goods, it starts with people and their education, organization and discipline.
According to Brahma and Odiaran (1985) the age in which we now live is charactized by what has been called the “Information Explosion,” notably as a result of the advent of modern Sophisticated Communication hardware which has reduced the world into a form of global Village. Electronic system, can be labeled the catalyst which when applied to any form of life endeavour, particularly that dealing with social change would bring about improved communications technology and globalization. Both the electronic systems and the technological hardware are used as an extention of man in the dissemination of information. This will aid in the sharing of ideas with a vast majority of people in different location without the fidelity of the message being affected.
A computer is a machine that performs tasks, such as calculations or electronic communication, under the control of a set of instructions called a program. Programs usually reside within the computer and retrieved and processed by the computer’s electronics. Computers perform variety of activities, reliably, accurately and quickly. They also entertain, creating digitized sound on stereo systems or computer-animated features, from a digitally encoded leiser disc. The computer is usually employed in sophisticated communications to encode and unscramble messages, and to keep track of personnel and supplies. Therefore, the increase on the use of computers in diverse areas of human endeavors. The history of the development of computer show that, so far, no industrialized nation has been able to make it without the use of computers. It is hardly surprising therefore, that even in developing countries like Nigeria. The use of computers is generally and gradually becoming the rule rather than an exception. Most certainly, computers have come to stay.
However, communication and its technologies have always developed as a social product, the dialectic, material and result of extended human interaction. In their application, communication technologies have been used as political and cultural tools by competing social groups, and then involves as part of the social process of use, change, contestation and group interest. Satellites may be globally influential, even revolution any (albi not in the way that literacy changed cognition and tradition); still, satellite communication, like oil communication, depends on who controls, who employs, who has access, and how is it used. “No technology by itself, can act on a social order without human agents (Hobsbowm, 2004).
Radio is the commonest, cheapest and all purpose mass communication media/system. It is regarded, also, as the most widespread and accessible in information dissemination. The Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS), radio, Enugu, Radio Nigeria Enugu and AIT Enugu share in this responsibility of educating, informing, entertainment, persuading, advertising and the like. This of course, should prompt them to exhibit a right sense of responsibility and fairness in the performing of their roles in the society for both economic and national development in Nigeria.