It
wouldn’t be mistaken for anyone who knows Nigeria too well to boldly assert
that the country is being taken aback as regards science and technology.
As a
tech expert, I’ve personally been bedivilled by the lingering soured and
pathetic physiognomy of the Nigeria’s science industry or tech sector. The
situation has unendingly been so pitiable that any discerning mind is required
to ascertain where exactly Nigerians as a people have gone wrong.
Little
wonder, on assumption of duty in 2015, the current Nigeria’s Minister of
Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was apparently piqued by the
lamentable situation, hence consequently pledged that the country would soonest
start manufacturing some technologically-oriented goods locally.
In
view of the quest, in the first quarter of 2016, Dr. Onu who is a graduate of
Chemical Engineering disclosed that Nigeria would start producing its own pencil
in the year 2018. Based on his perception, local production of such a product
was long overdue.
The said boss expressed hope that the plan,
if duly implemented, would have a “meaningful impact” on the economy because
the wide aim of the ministry was to “commercialize developed ideas and research
findings to principal levels”. He further boasted that Nigerians would be
amazed at the multiplier effects, which according to him, would include the
creation of at least 400,000 jobs.
When asked the reason his ministry had chosen
to begin with such a ‘minor’ device, he proudly responded “Yes, I have heard
questions on why pencils? We chose pencils to symbolize the problems that we
have and our commitment to local production”.
The science minister went ahead to
stress that his ministry had already urged the Projects Development Agency
(PRODA) to ensure Nigeria starts producing the device in question “in two years
time” by embarking on the required holistic research.
One may then begin to wonder why at
this point nothing has absolutely been heard about the proposed pencil
production. It’s appalling that after two years of tendering such frantic
promise, the concerned ministry is presently mute over the quest. Could it be
that the required raw-materials were nowhere to be found across the federation,
or the needed manpower is missing?
Lest
I forget; it’s imperative for us to take into cognizance the materials needed
towards setting up the pencil production industry. To manufacture a pencil,
items such as wood, graphite, paint, possibly rubber and aluminium in some
cases, are required. Aside rubber that’s mainly found in the Southern part of
Nigeria, wood, graphite and aluminium could be obtained from virtually all the
parts.
It’s noteworthy that Nigeria abounds with
these items. What else needs to be done than to harness them? The government
ought to create the enabling environment and ensure that the necessary taxes
surrounding the awaited industry are reduced to the barest minimal toward
encouraging the prospective investors?
The
government might have the plan to establish and manage such anticipated
industry by itself. But the day-to-day management of such firms doesn’t
necessarily need to be carried out by the government. What it rather needs to
do is to create the rudimentary platform on which the prospective private
investors would thrive.
I’ve observed that the prime bane of the
Nigeria’s democratic system is lack of political will. Sometimes, a certain
government might made up of sound and exemplary brains but once the political
will is missing, it would certainly appear as if there’s no available knowledge
and experience to perform or put the thoughts into actions.
But if the political will is available,
even in the absence of sound brains within the system, the government will
definitely extend hand of fellowship to the cognoscenti. In a nutshell, if one
has a lofty idea but there’s no will or zeal to drive it, such conceived plan would
arguably die on arrival.
It’s very saddening that a government would
promise to carry out a particular initiative but in the long run, would pretend
as if nothing was actually said in the first place. Funnily enough, in some
cases, the government in question may even deny that it ever tendered such a
pledge when confronted by the concerned citizenry.
When most Nigerians were bitter that among all
the products in the world, it was a ‘mere’ pencil that Dr. Onu’s ministry
decided to give an attention, my joy knew no bounds because as a tech
professional, I was aware such a step would go a long way in conscientizing and
awakening the country’s science and technology sector. But at the moment, it
seems every hope is lost.
Brain drain has overtime caused an
untold harm to the Nigeria’s economy. It’s worthy of note that such an endless
phenomenon usually takes place as a result of the government’s inability to
utilize the available patents cum talents domiciled in the country.
In his speech, Dr. Onu also disclosed that
the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIR) had developed “more than
250 research studies up to the point of commercialization”. Furthermore, he
stated “And in incubation, we have an agency in charge that has done up to 1000
products”.
This revelation indicates that we invariably
find it very difficult to strive beyond ‘research studies’ and ‘incubation’
stage. It’s even mind-boggling that the research work itself isn’t aptly funded
by the concerned authorities.
It’s, therefore, high time Dr. Onu and his
team implemented the pencil production policy before they unleash the wrath of
technology upon themselves. Think about it!
Comrade FDN Nwaozor
Chief Consultant, Docfred Technologies
_________________________
+2348028608056
Twitter:
@mediambassador
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