Most developing nations have embarked on various reforms that foster the use of ICTs in their economies. These reforms tend to yield little or minimal benefits to economic growth and development, especially when compared with the developed countries of the world. Technological advancement is known to impact fast rate of economic development.
One of the indices by which a nation’s growth and
advancement can be measured is by her technological
endowment and not by the level of her endowment in natural
and human resources. A nation’s economic efficiency is
determined, measured, compared, classified and ranked by its
technological advancement. Various authorities have
differently defined the term technology.
One of the indices by which a nation’s growth and advancement can be measured is by her technological endowment and not by the level of her endowment in natural and human resources. A nation’s economic efficiency is determined, measured, compared, classified and ranked by its technological advancement. Various authorities have differently defined the term technology.
Technology is derived from the root word “techne” which
means activities by which man seeks to adapt to his
environment. It is said that technology development pertains
to development witnessed through industrial activities [1].
Technology embraces the means by a man controls or
modifies his natural environment. It is also seen as a special
kind of knowledge which is directed towards practical
applications in the physical and social world. It is also
defined as the application of practical, mechanical and
scientific knowledge to industry and commerce. More so,
technology is understood as the body of organized
knowledge, tools and machines used by man to manipulate
his environment to satisfy his basic needs
Technology is derived from the root word “techne” which means activities by which man seeks to adapt to his environment. It is said that technology development pertains to development witnessed through industrial activities. Technology embraces the means by a man controls or modifies his natural environment. It is also seen as a special kind of knowledge which is directed towards practical applications in the physical and social world. It is also defined as the application of practical, mechanical and scientific knowledge to industry and commerce. More so, technology is understood as the body of organized knowledge, tools and machines used by man to manipulate his environment to satisfy his basic needs.
Attempts to ensure sustainable economic development and poverty reduction of most nations usually involve the development of agriculture, mining, industrial as well as the service sectors. The Industrial Revolutions in Europe and America, generally and specifically, have been premised on technological breakthroughs. During the late 1990s, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was the largest contributor to growth within capital services for both Canada and the United States. Similar trend has been observed with the economic development of China, Korea, Taiwan, India, South Africa, and other emerging economic powers. At the wake of 2000, the Federal Government of Nigeria embarked on an aggressive drive towards the provision of more efficient services in the nation through its privatisation and deregulation policies.
The policy thrives led to the establishment of National Telecommunication Policy in December 2001. The policy, among other things, recognised the need for the establishment of an enabling environment for deregulation and rapid expansion of the telecommunication services in the country. The mission statement of the government was to use ICTs for Education, Creation of Wealth, Poverty Eradication, Job Creation, and Global Competitiveness. The policy objective was to develop globally competitive quality manpower in ICTs and related disciplines in Netbet. This entails developing a pool of ICT engineers, scientists, technicians and software developers. Consequently, attractive career opportunities will emerge in addition to development of Made in Nigeria softwares and computer components that can earn the nation some foreign exchange. The implementation of ICTs policy led to the adoption of Global System for Mobile-Communications (GSM) and its related components in Nigeria.
Factors Affecting
Nigeria’s Technological Growth
Factors Affecting
Nigeria’s Technological Growth
Factors Affecting Nigeria’s Technological Growth
The factors affecting Nigeria’s technological growth can be grouped into two, namely, internal and external factors.
Internal Factors
1. Porous Infrastructural Base
2. High Index of Corruption
3. Internal Security
4. Lack of Purposeful Leadership
5. Government Attitude towards Policy Implementation
6. Industrial Policies after Independence
7. Non Involvement of Engineers in Technological Decision Making
External Factors
1. Negative Influence Posed by Our Colonial Masters
2. Relegation of Indigenous Knowledge
3. Wrong Philosophy of Western Education
4. Conflicting Interest in Transfer of Technology
5. Selfishness in Controlling Transfer of Technology
6. Transfer of the Appropriate Technology
The Way Forward for Technological Growth in Nigeria
The following recommendations provide the way forward for the technological growth of this nation Nigeria.
1. Copying Items in the Market
2. Selfless, Determined and Visionary Leadership
3. Revamp the Steel Industry
4. Increase Funding for Our Research and Development Institutes
5. Invest into the Educational Infrastructural Facilities
6. Ensure the Appropriate Technology Transfer
7. Employ the Technique of Technological Espionage
8. Government Implementation Will-Power
