NITEL) indeed played a pivotal role in the early days of telecommunication

Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) indeed played a pivotal role in the early days of telecommunication in Nigeria. As a government-owned corporation, it had a monopoly on the country's telephone service and was responsible for introducing many people to the concept of long-distance and international communication.

The shared experience of waiting for a NITEL line to connect and the excitement of receiving or making a call was a significant part of the social and economic fabric of the time.

The era of NITEL's dominance was marked by several challenges and limitations, such as the scarcity of phone lines, poor service quality, and the need for advance booking for international calls. These issues were reflective of the technological limitations and infrastructural challenges of the period.

The introduction of mobile phones in the 1990s began to revolutionize telecommunication in the country, offering an alternative to the fixed lines of NITEL. With the advent of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) in 2001, the landscape shifted dramatically with the entry of private companies such as MTN, Econet Wireless (now Airtel), and others.

NITEL's decline can be attributed to various factors, including poor management, under-investment in infrastructure, and the inability to adapt to the changing technological environment. Despite its challenges, NITEL laid the foundation for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, which has since grown into one of the largest in Africa with over 200 million active mobile subscriptions.

The privatization of NITEL in 2001 was intended to revive its operations and bring in new investment. However, it faced several issues post-privatization, including mismanagement and debts, which eventually led to its liquidation in 2009 and the ceding of its assets to NatCom Development & Investment Ltd. in 2015. The company's operations formally ended in 2015, and its assets were later transferred to NTEL, a new company that aimed to revive the once-thriving brand.

Today, while NITEL may be a nostalgic memory for many Nigerians, it is also a reminder of the importance of innovation, competition, and effective governance in the telecommunications sector. The industry's growth since the introduction of GSM has brought about significant improvements in service quality, accessibility, and affordability, transforming the way people in Nigeria communicate and do business.