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MTN Nigeria has emphasised that the full potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies can only be realised through sustained investment in digital infrastructure, describing fifth-generation (5G) connectivity as a key enabler of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Speaking during a session titled “5G, IoT and the Future of Tech” at the fifth cohort of the Media Innovation Programme (MIP) in Lagos, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, said conversations about AI should extend beyond applications to the underlying infrastructure that powers digital innovation.
According to her, technologies such as AI depend on robust networks, data centres, computing capacity and reliable energy systems, making digital infrastructure the foundation of the country’s technology-driven future.
“Technology is never the story. Technology is a piece of machinery or a piece of code written by someone. What truly matters is what people do with technology—that is where the real story lies,” she said.
Saint-Nwafor urged media professionals to move beyond reporting the outcomes of technological innovation and focus more attention on the systems that enable those breakthroughs.
“The buzzword today is AI, but very few people ask what powers AI. It relies on data, energy, data centres and computing infrastructure. We often discuss the applications, but rarely the foundations that make them possible,” she said.
She noted that every major technological revolution has been built on critical infrastructure. Roads enabled commerce, electricity powered industrialisation, and the internet transformed access to information. Similarly, today’s digital economy is being driven by investments in broadband connectivity, cloud infrastructure, data centres and resilient power systems.
“There has never been a technological revolution without infrastructure. Every transformation begins with someone building the foundation,” she added.
Explaining the evolution of mobile communications, Saint-Nwafor said each generation of network technology has unlocked new capabilities. While first-generation (1G) networks enabled voice communication, 2G introduced text messaging, 3G brought mobile internet access, and 4G significantly improved data speeds and digital connectivity.
According to her, 5G marks another major leap by extending connectivity beyond people to machines, devices and intelligent systems.
“The difference between 4G and 5G is that while 4G primarily connects humans, 5G connects humans, machines, devices and entire systems,” she explained.
She added that the technology provides the foundation for next-generation innovations, including the Internet of Things (IoT), smart manufacturing, intelligent transportation, connected healthcare, automation and new digital business models.
Her remarks come as Nigeria continues to expand broadband infrastructure and accelerate its digital economy agenda, with emerging technologies expected to drive growth across sectors including financial services, healthcare, education, agriculture and manufacturing.
Saint-Nwafor concluded by encouraging journalists and media practitioners to deepen their understanding of the infrastructure underpinning digital innovation, noting that doing so would enable more informed and impactful reporting on Nigeria’s evolving technology landscape.
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