The Imperative of 5G and Future 6G Integration in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Government ICT Professionals in Nigeria

The rapid evolution of mobile communication technologies from 1G to 4G has transformed global economies; however, emerging economies continue to face infrastructural, regulatory, and technological challenges in fully realizing the benefits of digital connectivity. This study investigates the imperative of integrating 5G and future 6G networks in Nigeria as a representative emerging economy in Africa. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 ICT directors, managers, and professionals from government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across Abia State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Lagos State. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering five key dimensions: productivity, governance, investment, security, and sustainability. Descriptive statistics comprising mean and standard deviation were used for data analysis. The findings revealed positive perceptions regarding the adoption of 5G and future 6G technologies across all dimensions, with mean scores of 3.546 for productivity, 3.682 for governance, 3.682 for investment, 3.608 for security, and 3.784 for sustainability. Sustainability recorded the highest level of agreement among respondents, while productivity recorded the lowest. Standard deviation values ranging from 1.10 to 1.15 indicate moderate consensus among participants. The study concludes that 5G deployment and proactive preparation for future 6G integration are important enablers of digital transformation, improved governance, economic growth, cybersecurity and national defense enhancement, and sustainable development in Nigeria. The study recommends accelerated infrastructure investment, strengthened national defense and cybersecurity frameworks, enhanced human-capacity development, strategic public-private partnerships, and early national planning for 6G readiness.