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TECHNOLOGY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS
ABSTRACT
1. This research was carried out to compare
the concepts of technology and economic development in order to establish the
importance of the former in boosting national economic development. The study
was geared at determining 4 distinct objectives. These were to compare the
concepts of technology and economic development. Thereafter, Nigeria’s
performance in advancing technology was compared with selected countries. Some
factors that hinder technological development in Nigeria were also examined.
Finally, strategies were proffered on the means of improving technological
development in Nigeria as a prerequisite for enhancing her economic
development. Indeed, Nigeria has faced challenges in addressing critical issues
required to make life better for the nation through technology development.
Accordingly, this research proposed some strategies that could assist the
government in addressing these challenges.
2. The
descriptive research method was used for the study. The research revealed that
technology and economic development are interconnected concepts with similar
objectives geared towards improving the lot of society. It was further
discovered that Nigeria’s technology base has not yet been able to provide
sustained economic development for the nation.
Furthermore, it revealed that technological advancement factors are not
being adequately addressed as key enablers of economic development. In
comparison with selected countries, it was discovered that Nigeria has
inadequacies in its technological development efforts. These were discovered in
areas of technology transfer agreements, R&D funding, technical education,
corruption and other economic development factors. However, these shortcomings
could be remedied in order to make technology a tool in enhancing the nation’s
economic development.
3. To reverse the poor state of Nigeria’s
technology-base, improved funding for R&D and technical education was
considered expedient. In addition, the FG government was implored to encourage
the private sector to be more committed to R&D efforts, set up bottom-up
community development programmes to mitigate poverty at the grassroots and
complete the construction of the ASCL. These strategies if employed would
result in achieving sustained economic development for the nation.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
The world’s economies have over the
last few decades, undergone dramatic transformation as nations strive for
economies driven by technology (Nelson, 2005:7). To compete favourably in the
global arena, a nation must have an economy composed of firms that constantly
innovate and maximise the use of technology (Nelson, 2005:9). The importance of
technology is evident in the way it bridges the gap between countries and
citizens through televisions, satellites, cellular phones and commercial
products. Technology-based economic development has therefore, become the means
through which a nation’s economic base can thrive.
Technology represents a positive force
that enhances human capabilities and expands resources. In his 1987 treatise on
the Concept of Technology, Milton Lower contrasts the conventional view of
technology as “gadgetry” or “individual creativity” (Milton, 2005:15). Rather,
he describes technology as an “intangible asset” belonging to the community
which serves as a basis for cumulative economic change (Milton, 2005:15). In this context, technology can be seen as
not just the latest in high-tech weapons but the generalised knowledge of a
people about how the world operates. This leads not only to inventions by a
few, but appropriate implementations of new ways of developing things in tools
and processes by many for economic development.
State support for technological
advances in the industrialised nations is evident in their drive to remain
significant in the international system. Through technology, nations such as
the United States of America (USA) and Britain create wealth, improve their
defence systems, provide better health care and enhance the standard of living
of their citizens (Soderbaum, 2000:15). Clearly, the level of advances in
technology suggests that states lagging behind in technology-based knowledge
are more likely to be marginalised.
Despite advances in technology and the
continuing impact on world civilisation, most developing countries have made
little effort locally to transform their societies technologically (Soderbaum,
2000:17). As a result, they continue to suffer from political and economic
underdevelopment. Accordingly, the economies of most developing states are
characterised by remote health facilities, high rates of unemployment, low
educational standards and poor standards of living. However, while this may be
true, some developing states such as Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and South
Africa amongst others have made remarkable technological advances (Soderbaum,
2000:20). Through the implementation of appropriate institutional frameworks,
these developing countries have designed policies for developing indigenous
technology. This accounts for one of the major reasons why China recently
emerged as the world’s second largest economy after the USA (Akinlo, 2007:24).
In Nigeria, the absence of appropriate
institutionalised frameworks continues to retard the nation’s technological
advancement (Dike, 2005:12). This has greatly
undermined her economic development especially in relation to other developing
economies. The concept of technological development in Nigeria evolved through
the years after her independence in 1960. During this time, British firms
dominated production and distribution organisation in Nigeria (Dike, 2005:12).
The focus of the Federal Government (FG) then, was to gradually reduce the
nation’s dependence on Britain. To this end, existing companies were encouraged
to improve their technological development, while efforts were directed at
technology transfer from Britain and other developed nations. Thus, between
1960 and 1981, Nigeria witnessed massive importation of capital goods and
establishment of very crucial industries such as the Defence Industries
Corporation of Nigeria, Ajaokuta steel industry and Nigerian Machine Tools
Company amongst others (Dike, 2005:14). However, most of these industries have
not been able to adequately advance the nation’s technological development.
Since the 1980s, Nigeria’s
technological drive has continued to dwindle. The emergence of crude oil as a
major export earner has further relegated the desire to encourage or develop
the nation technologically (Dike, 2005:16). This is because various governments
feel that national needs could always be met through earnings from crude oil
sales without necessarily advancing Nigeria’s technological base. Accordingly,
prior investment in infrastructural development and industrial manufacturing
sectors has continued to collapse. Thus, Nigeria’s near complete dependence on
imports results in currency devaluations, deteriorating services, high
inflation, massive unemployment and very poor standards of living (Dauda,
2003:84). Furthermore, the failure of the FG to put in place appropriate
policies that would encourage technological advancement results in the brain
drain of some of the nation’s best intellectuals. Most of these intellectuals
are now significant contributors of to the technological development of the
counties where they reside. This clearly suggests that despite the initial
appreciable technological inflow into the country, Nigeria has failed to
adequately develop her technological base.
The World Bank as at October 2010
placed Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at $ 206,604 United States (US)
Dollars (Dauda, 2003:18). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also
ranked Nigeria as one hundred and forty second out of 169 least economically
prosperous countries of the world for the same period (US World Development
Report, September 2010). Furthermore, the Human Development Index (HDI) report
for 2010 ranked Nigeria one hundred and fifty eighth in the world and
twenty-fifth in Africa behind countries like South Africa, Morocco, Ghana and
Cameroun amongst others (Human Development Report, 2010:213). These statistics
imply that the nation has not fared too well in her economic development as
required to adequately improve the livelihood of the populace.
The FG’s vision to make Nigeria one of
the world’s top 20 economies in the year 2020 is a step in the right direction.
It represents the thrust that the government intends to inject to drive
technological development in all ramifications. However, this dream needs to be
supported by realistic policies that would enable sustainable economic growth
and development. In this regard, there is the need to rapidly advance Nigeria’s
current technological status. This is a precursor for the achievement of any
meaningful economic development.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Conceptual issues surrounding
technology in less developed countries like Nigeria most often reflect
murkiness in the economic development of such nations. Nigeria is a nation
blessed with enormous human and material resources and currently has the
world’s eighth largest reserves of crude oil and natural gas (US Energy
Information Administration, 2010:3). In the third quarter of 2010, the USA
report on petroleum export placed Nigeria’s earnings at $48 billion US Dollars
(US Report on World Petroleum Export, 2010:12). Despite these huge earnings,
Nigeria is still ranked as one of the least developed economies in the world.
The reason for this is largely attributed to the nation’s failure to develop a
sustainable technological base which accounts for her continuous reliance on
the importation of capital and industrial products.
In Nigeria, the tendency to think of
technology in terms of finished products continues to negate efforts at
sustainable development required for appreciable economic development.
Accordingly, establishment of the relationship between technology and economic
development is needed to reverse this misconception. Furthermore, government
policies must create the enabling environment required for technology to
develop. To act otherwise would amount to further undermining the nation’s
chances of enhancing her economic development.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study seeks to proffer answers to
the following questions:
(1) What is the relationship between technology
and economic development?
(2) How has Nigeria fared in developing her
economy through technology when compared to some developing nations?
(3) What are the factors that hinder
technological development in Nigeria?
(4) What are the strategies and policies that
can assist in achieving technological development in order to improve economic
development in Nigeria?
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are:
(1) To establish the relationship between
technology and economic development.
(2) To find out how Nigeria has fared in
developing her economy through technology compared to some developing
countries.
(3) To examine the factors that hinder
technological development in Nigeria.
(4) To proffer strategies and policies for
improving technological development as a prerequisite for enhancing Nigeria’s
economic development.
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
This work is guided by the following
hypothesis:
(
(1) Technology
and economic development are mutually reinforcing.
(2) Nigeria
has not fared very well in developing her economy through technological
development.
(3) The
level of technological advancement in Nigeria varies significantly with factors
such as poor technical education, inadequate funding for R&D, preference
for imported goods and high prevalence of corruption.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is significant in the sense
that it would contribute in encouraging technological development in Nigeria.
Additionally, its findings would assist governmental agencies to appreciate the
import of technological development as a veritable tool for enhancing Nigeria’s
economic development.
It is hoped that this study would add
to existing literature and body of knowledge on the interrelationship between
technology and economic development. Furthermore, this research work is
expected to arouse additional research work on these concepts.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The concept of technology as well as
its impact on the economic development of nation-states has evolved since the
industrial age. However its relevance became significant in Nigeria after her
independence from Britain in 1960. Since then, several policies regarding
technological advancement in the country have been promulgated in a bid to make
the nation technologically self-reliant. However, since the return of Nigeria
to civil rule in 1999, the drive has become more significant as the FG now
aspires to make the country one of the most developed economies in the world.
In the course of
this study, only relevant literature from 2000-2010 would be referred to.
Though other literatures could address the issue of technological development,
it is believed that such would be out of context with the approach adopted by
Nigeria since the period of stable governance in the country.
1.8 LIMITATIONS
This research work was impaired by the
use of only secondary data to analyse the measure of technology and economic
development from other developing countries and Nigeria. Although, the data
used were from reputable international bodies, the authenticity of their
findings may not be faultless. Nevertheless, these did not affect the quality
of research carried out and the outcomes of the findings as numerous literature
were used to validate the data used.
1.9 METHODOLOGY
The research method used in this study
is the descriptive research approach. To achieve this thesis, the research
design applied was the correlational study. It is a study which involves
measuring 2 variables and determining the degree of relationship between them.
These are technology which is the independent variable and economic development
which is the dependent variable.
Sprinthall et al in Olayiwola
describes correlational study as a statement about the relationship between 2
variables. It tells the extent to which the variables occur together. Thus,
this study observed and evaluated the concept of economic development to
establish the effects technology has on it.
THEORETICAL
FRAMEWORK
[[[[
The theoretical
underpinning of this study is the institutional theory of economic development.
The institutionalism of Clarence Ayres and John Kenneth Galbraith pioneered the
idea that economic development is more than economic growth. Economic
development occurs when there is a broadly based increase in the standard of
living or quality of life. While many aspects of the institutionalist view have
permeated neoclassical thinking about development (Turdoff, 2002:16) this
differentiation between growth and development has not, but it has been
accepted by many ecological economists (Daly, 2009:21).
In addition to
being broad-based and contributing to a better quality of life, ecological
economists argue that true economic development needs to be sustainable over
time. Their most important contributions have been to recognize first, that
there are life-giving, non-renewable resources for which there are no
substitutes, and second, that population growth combined with a rising standard
of living will create waste, which may exceed the capacity of the biosphere. Thus,
it is believed these insights along with the important contributions of
institutionalism can help develop a richer and more pluralistic approach to
economic development.
Beginning with
Thorstein Veblen, institutional economists in the United States have disagreed
with the classical and neoclassical focus on accumulation of capital as the
driving force behind economic growth and development. Institutionalists
identify technology and its relationship to cultural habits and institutions as
the key to growth (Veblen, 2004:12). Development is more than growth. It
describes an ongoing (evolutionary) process that will continue to raise
standards of living for a broad spectrum of the population over time.
Development is related to the new "states of mind" that come with
changing knowledge and its implementation through technology.
In
institutionalism, technology represents positive forces enhancing human
capabilities and expanding resources. This describes the broadly accepted
knowledge within a culture that Veblen terms an "intangible asset"
belonging to the community and which serves as the basis for cumulative
economic change. Veblen's "instinct of workmanship" is the basis for
curiosity and trial and error experimentation. It leads to innovation and the
implementation of new ways of doing things in tools and processes (Ayres,
2003:18).
While neoclassical
economics treats technology as exogenous, institutionalism sees technology
(knowledge) as not only the creator
of physical capital but a determinant of what is a resource (DeGregor, 2001:17). For
example, until humans have sufficient knowledge they cannot see coal or oil as
a resource for heat. Similarly, knowledge and its widespread acceptance can be
the basis for using resources much more efficiently and finding ways to recycle
waste rather than use and deplete resources.
Every society
needs certain level of institutions to support an economy and its development,
but institutionalists are inclined to view them with skepticism. Institutions
are often a negative force preventing adaptation to new ways of doing things.
"Institutions" refers to Veblen's habits of thought as well as to the
organizations and structures that many today are calling social capital.
Religious beliefs, the materialistic view that "more is better,"
competitiveness or cooperation are also institutions. Throughout history new
technologies and modes of thought have flowed to societies where institutions
were flexible, sometimes because they were weak and undeveloped (Ayres,
2003:24). In addition to retarding innovation institutions can also skew the
distribution of economic rewards toward a powerful group, repress scientific
inquiry or emphasize materialism as the source of happiness.
We can see the
negative force of institutions on sustainable development in the following 3
examples. While the use of technology is often referred to as a market
decision, DeGregori (2001:24) points out that "market decisions operate in
a context of past and present public and private decisions." This may
create a "need" for ever increasing amounts of energy. Rapidly rising
per capita consumption long after basic needs have been met strains the
capacity of the environment to absorb the waste generated as well as the resource
inputs needed. Veblen (2001:22), Galbraith (2003:14) and other
institutionalists see conspicuous consumption as a habit of thought, fostered
by a society with a demand for status markers. Geographic and economic mobility
leave a vacuum about how to define who has what status relative to others that
conspicuous consumption can fill. In addition, both Veblen (2001:16) and
Galbraith (2003:23) observed that the organization of modern industrial economy
around a powerful corporate structure twists the definition of "needs"
into what will help corporations grow and profit.
An important
aspect of institutionalism is its emphasis on the central role of people. They
are not only the source of knowledge and technology but also the creators of
the institutions that facilitate or limit applications of technology for
economic development. There is also constant feedback and interaction between
institutions and technology in any society, which leads to a process of
accumulative knowledge and habits around how to use resources. What we have is
a dynamic evolutionary system that recognizes the power of technology in
creating change. However, we also need to be aware of its limitations.
Nelson (2005:25)
describe institutions that protect obsolete technologies (for example,
replacing fossil fuels with renewable resources like wind) and keep technology
on a linear path. Because of inherent uncertainty in the future, once a
particular pattern or technology works individuals and institutions are
reluctant to change. This can lead to problems like path dependencies and
locked-in uses of dominant technology. Thus, new technologies that can lead to
a more sustainable world might be locked out of the system.
In Nigeria, an
institutional framework that supports education, builds and maintains roads
that link the rural to the urban centres, ensures reliable energy supply and
promotes the spirit of inquiry is a necessary condition for developing ideas of
appropriate technology. However, given inadequate resource accumulation and
allocation practices in most Third World nations, a more feasible approach
would be one that focuses government policies on the provision of basic
infrastructures. This would facilitate effective participation of members of
civil society and encourage better utilization of available resources to bring
about development of ideas rather than the consumption of already developed
technological products from the industrialized nations. Participating in the
development of ideas and their consequent usable products will also institutionalize
a maintenance culture for developing and sustaining appropriate technology in
Nigeria.
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