“What Manner of a Country is Nigeria?”

Chat with Chief Areole Oyebola on Nigerias advancement in S&T

Chief Areole Oyebola, Chairman of the Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT), in his recent published Article, has asked why Science and Technology Activities undertaken in Nigeria over the years cannot transform Nigeria into a Technology and globally competitive industrial Economy as is the case of Japan, China and South Korea, now in competition with Industrial Europe and North America (USA and Canada, for what purpose is our Country, Nigeria, investing so much to educate our Citizens in the Sciences ? Why are we making so much investments to educate/ train our Citizens in the Sciences with no clear Objective? Why is Nigeria just making motions starting with Moor Plantation at Ibadan in 1899 in Agricultural Sciences Research with no intent? “What Manner of a Country is Nigeria” he asked?

 Chief Areoye Oyebola , 83, is a distinguished Nigerian Economist , Author of over 20 Books, Journalist, former Newspaper Editor and Chairman of the Movement for Nigeria Total Transformation (MNTT).  In his recent Article posted to me as a Comrade in the crusade for Nigeria’s Technological /Economic development Progress, he has asked “What Manner of a Country is Nigeria?” He observed that Nigeria, although inhabited by the largest percentage of the Black Peoples in the World, remain the only Country which was not spurred by the devastating Nigeria-Biafra Civil War into Spectacular Technological and Scientific Innovations, as Japan did after the second World War of 1939-1945. Japan, he further stated, in spite, of the Devastation, it suffered in the 2^nd World War, 1939-1945, rose to become one of the major Inventors of modern Automobiles through Technology Innovation, manufacturer of Scientific Equipment including Power Equipment / Instruments / ICT products, and the spectrum of Machinery in the World. He wondered why were there no outstanding and forward -looking Nigerian Leaders, including the Military Men, who ruled our Country, Nigeria, for some years, after the Civil War, who could not follow up later the long- range Rockets and Technologies invented by Biafran Scientists  during the Civil War, he asked? Nigeria, he recalled in 1966, had a total number of five Universities (UCI, UNN, UNILAG, ABU, and UNIFE. By 1966, Nigeria had a good number of well trained and knowledgeable Scientists in any field of Science, be it Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Engineering and Medical Sciences, equal to any in the World, but had very little or no domestic endogenous capability and or capacity to produce modern Technologies of production and services in her Economy, nor the capacity to produce / manufacture any globally competitive Industrial Goods (Capital, Consumer items and Industrial materials ) respectively, both for domestic use and for exports to the World global Market, to earn Foreign Currency and provide jobs for her People. He continued to state the obvious namely that all the Technology Inputs for any form of Industrial / Economic Activities including Services are imported or sourced from Industrial Nations of Europe, North America and Asia in the face of over 120 Universities in Nigeria , each with Faculties of Science, Engineering and Technology . The only Exports, he stated from Nigeria, were Agricultural Commodities such as Cocoa, Palm Oil and Palm Kernel, Cotton, Cattle Hides and Skins, large Diameter Timber Wood, but the Crude Petroleum Export had then not come on stream. Then came the Civil War of 1967-1970, he said, and it is only during the Civil War in Biafra, that any form of Technologies and Industrial goods were produced in Nigeria’s Economy.

He then asked me (Felix N. C. Oragwu), namely you were involved in Technology Development Matters, not only during the Civil War in Biafra, 1967-1970, but also in Nigeria from 1972 to present. He continued to state that Nigeria is now operating a near total of 120 Universities, each with Faculties of Science, Engineering and Technology and over 25 Research and Development Institutions / Agencies, and nothing has changed. As at present, Nigeria which began Science activities way back to 1899 at Ibadan Moore Plantation, (200 years after), Nigeria has yet to build the domestic endogenous capability and or capacity for the production of modern Technologies of production and services in her own economy nor for the manufacture of any form of Industrial Goods, be it capital goods, consumer goods items and industrial materials respectively in her own economy both for domestic use and for export to the global World Market and has to import all manners of Technologies and Industrial Goods Inputs including Tooth Pics, from China for any form of Services / Industrial Activities in Nigeria. Recall, he asked me, that China became independent in 1949, South Korea became independent in 1953, India became independent in 1947 and they were almost in the same position as Nigeria at the time of their Independence, but now export Technologies/ globally competitive Industrial Goods to USA, Europe Asia, Latin America and Nigeria in  Africa, and these Countries are now also Members of the Top 20 World Economy, and Nigeria is not there.  and totally nowhere near there. What is going on in Nigeria and “What Manner of a Country is Nigeria”, Chief Oyebola has continued to ask.    

As a Key Participant in the Biafra Technology Development Experience and, also, a committed Nigerian Citizen for Technological / Industrial Goods production in Nigeria’s Economy, I (Felix N. C. Oragwu) involved intimately in S&T Activities in Nigeria since 1970, will try to answer Chief Oyebola’s interesting but intriguing / worrying Questions, in what follows hereinunder, in the interest of Nigerians and History.

Chief Oyebola’s Questions are much deeper than they appear, but they are pertinent / significant Questions, which must be answered in the interest of Nigeria as a great Nation in Africa. This Writer (Felix N. C. Oragwu)  should or ought to know what the Answers should be, because he served as Head of Research .and Technology Development (R&D) Planning Division / Coordinator of the Technological Services of the Technology Aspects of the Industrial War Machine, that operated in the now defunct State of Biafra, 1967-1970.

One sees the Answer to the above stated Questions as three folds , namely, (1) Japan is one ethnic Nationality Nation,
(2) Nigeria is a forced Amalgamation of over 120 different Nations such as Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe Ijaw and many others with smaller populations comprised in Nigeria. These were forced together without their consent to become a Nation by the British Imperial Power and Colonial Diplomacy. Nigeria as a Nation State of different / distinct ethnic Nationalities had no real unity, no real peace no love, no real patriotism, and had also even gone to Civil War, because of the way they were put together, and
(3) the ever Tasking / unpleasant Impact of Nigeria’s inherited Legacy of socio-economic development Policy of Sir Lord Lugard (the first Governor General of Nigeria) which declared  in his Book, titled, “Dual Mandate of  Britain in Tropical Africa” 4^th Edition London 1929, which clearly / truthfully stated, that Britain was in Nigeria for British Economic interests and that it is not in the British Economic Interest to allow Nigerians to produce and manufacture modern Technologies and Industrial Goods in Nigeria’s Economy as that will compromise the prime Objectives of British Colonization of Nigeria as a big Market for Technologies /Industrial Goods. How many Leadership Elite, particularly those in Politics and in Government, one may wish to ask, have had the opportunity or chance to read Lord Lugard’s Dual Mandate Technology/ Economic Policy or if they did, do they really understand and appreciate its impact on Nigeria’s Economic development.  Japan does not carry this type of Nigeria’s Baggage and that is why it made fantastic Technology fantastic progress in Technology Innovation and Progress. That is why the unfortunate behavior of Nigerian Leadership Elite in Politics and Governance is understandable but unfortunate/ inexcusable. For instance in the implementation of  Lugard’s Dual Mandate Economic Policy, the only University College established in 1948 up to 1962, did not offer any Academic Courses in Engineering, Technology and Professional Courses, and even in the Sciences, allowed only or limited itself to Classical Newtonian Physics, Classical Chemistry, with little  Physical Chemistry but promoted Organic primary Commodity Chemistry / Biochemistry, mostly to support Agricultural Commodity Exports from Nigeria which were allowed. There were no Polytechnics, no Colleges of Technology, no Technical Colleges, for the training of Manpower in Professional and Technical Skills of production /manufacture / processing of primary raw materials int industrial goods in Nigeria’s Economy.  Even quantity Economics was not spared, but Trade Union Economics was allowed. With such Technology and Economic Development Legacy, where does Nigeria now look to or tune for Comfort.    

In the case of Scientific Research in Nigeria the Situation was even worse, as only primary Agricultural / Mineral Commodity Research / Survey, was allowed, namely, Oil Palm Research for export Palm Oil and Kernel, Institute of Agricultural at Ibadan for primary Cotton Export, Institute of Agricultural Research , Zaria, Institute of Trypasonomiasis Research to fight Cattle Diseases that may affect primary Export of Hides and Skins for Leather / Leather Products Industry in Britain, primary Cocoa produce research for primary Cocoa Export to Britain and primary Large Timber Forest Research for export of large diameter Timber Wood to Britain , Geological Survey to assay Nigeria’s Mineralogy, and spiced with Discipline oriented Scientific Research at UCI for Scientific Knowledge acquisition for its own sake . That sums up Scientific Research for Economic Development in Nigeria and nobody, no Government is asking Questions. The situation did not change a bit after Independence from Britain, and even when Nigeria after independence and appointed even Ministers of Science and Technology. No Change. Japan made fantastic Scientific / Technological Progress after the second World War because Japan did not carry this type of Nigeria’s Baggage.  From 1960-1965 after Independence, Nigeria carried on with the incredible Lugard Heritage as if everything is normal. Nigeria even now with over 120 Universities each with Faculties of Science, Engineering and Technology, imports Tooth-pics from the Peoples Republic of China. That is where I blame Nigerian Leadership Elite particularly those in Politics and in Government for lacking focus on Technology and Industrialization of our Country and spending all their Energies on the Issueless Politics of ethnicity and allowing hysteria to supplant, Logic Truth and Justice in Nigeria. So why one can be charitable in ones Criticism of our Political Leaders, but no one can absolve them from the current Nigeria’s Technology and Economic Development Mess, poverty, joblessness and related insecurity.

It is at Independence in 1960, thanks to Great Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, that the above Narratives began to change following the establishment by the Eastern Nigeria Regional Government of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The latter, UNN, introduced  Faculties to cover all aspects of Engineering and Technology, Quantity Economics for Small / Large Scale Industrial Enterprises development thanks to late Professor Sam Aluko at UNN , Political Science to tackle Colonization, Nutrition to deal with consumer goods items in Nigeria., Plant / Soil Science,  Estate Management, Geology as a Physical Discipline, among others as is the case in World Universities  to salvage Nigeria from the terrible Lugard / British Colonial Policy on Science, Technology and Economic Activities in Nigeria. But Habits die hard and Nigeria has again reverted to the unfortunate Colonial Status quo ante. That is why late Chinua Achebe of Things Fall Apart attributed all our Problems to Leadership when he wrote that the Problem of Nigeria is LEADERSHIP.

In late 1971, following the end of the Nigeria -Biafra Civil War, something happened , namely the Federal Military Government (FMG) under General Yakubu Gowon as Head of State, wrote a Letter to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) Professor J. O.C. Ezeilo, where I, (Felix N. C. Oragwu) had returned in 1970, after the War to continue the teaching of Physics to my Students at UNN. The Letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor / University Council, stated as follows, namely, and I quote: “We have found Felix N. C. Oragwu, (Lecturer in Physics) of your University (UNN) to have concrete and rich Ideas on Science and Technology Policy for economic / industrial development and the application of Science and Technology for Development of Nations which Ideas we strongly believe should be channeled for the benefit of the Nigerian Nation”. “The FMG will therefore be happily pleased if you and your Council will release Felix N. C. Oragwu, for two years in the first instance  to the Federal Cabinet Office, Lagos to assist in organizing / establishing the Programs/ the Activities, of the newly established Nigerian Council of Science and Technology (NCST) established in April, 1970, and located in the Federal Cabinet Office, Lagos” The Vice Chancellor , Prof J. O. C. Ezeilo showed me the Letter and said it is an Order from FMG, which must be obeyed and you have to go and they said on secondment for two years in the first instance. I asked the Vice Chancellor why me. He said that this must be in conformity with the FMG  post War Policy on “No Victor No Vanquished, and a Call for Reconciliation and Reconstruction” and somebody like you who had played a Key Role in Technology Activities in Biafra should play a Role in the Implementation of that Policy. I then asked for a Copy of the Letter so that I can show it, to at least my Wife, to convince her that I must leave UNN for two years. He said he will give me the Letter but whatever happens it is an Order from the FMG.  Having no Choice in matter, I reluctantly abandoned my Students and my Chalk at UNN to the uncharted Course of the Federal Civil Service Appointments albeit, on secondment from UNN.

In 1972, I arrived at the Federal Cabinet Office in Lagos and was ushered in to the Office of Nigerian Council of Science and Technology (NCST) in the Office of the Head of State and given the following Appointment Titles, namely first Principal Scientific Secretary / Chief Scientist to NCST / Cabinet Office, 1972-1976 under General Yakubu Gowon Administration, followed by Director Industrial Research and Technology Innovation in NSTDA, which replaced the NCST, 1977-1979, which was under the General Muritala Mohammned / General Obasanjo /General Musa Yaraduah Administration, and from October 1979, under  the Civilian Administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari / Dr Alex Ekwueme Administration which changed the NSTDA to Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) and my Appointment Title was changed again to Director later Senior Director in Charge of the Department of Science and Technology Policy, Planning and Development from October 1979-August 1987, when I finally retired on Permanent Secretary or Director General Salary Grade Level on “Special  Merit” in 1987, and I went into Technology Development Consultancy to United Nations Agencies (UNECA, UNIDO and UNDP) and Commonwealth Science Council  (CSC) in London of UK of Great Britain, respectively .

What did all these Civil Service Appointments,1972-1987, achieve for Nigeria?

Well, I can only say what we did and leave Nigeria to judge whatever it is worth. But this is by examining / bearing in mind that Physics is the Mother of modern Technology and the modern Technology itself is the Mother of Industrial Economy, which changed the Scope and Complexity of World Economy. It is in this light  that the State of Nigeria’s  domestic capacity for the production of modern Technologies of production and Services in Nigeria’s Domestic Economy both  for Domestic Use and for Export to the global World Market for Foreign Currency can be judged, (2) similarly the production / manufacture of Industrial Goods in Nigeria’s  Domestic Economy both for domestic use and for export to global World Market to gain Foreign Currency. However for avoidance of doubt here, Industrial Goods consist of Equipment, Machines, Measuring and Control Instruments such as fast Computers, Engineering Tools and Hand Tools, processed consumer goods items . and Industrial materials such as organic Chemicals, inorganic Chemicals and Special Chemicals such as Fertilizers and Explosives, and, in particular, Steel (Sheet metal and Carbon Steel), the Sheet metal being the prime Metal of all moving parts of a Machine

With the above in View here are the S&T program put in place for the development /related Achievements made in Nigeria in my time, from 1972 to 1987, Namely 

• 1972 Based on High Level National Conference involving Who is Who, in Science and Technology, Universities, Research Institutions / Agencies, Organized Private Sector of the Economy, Convened by the Office of the Secretary of the Federation, under my (Felix N. C. Oragwu) Control /Coordination, to undertake the Identification of the Technology Needs of the various Sectors of the Nigeria’s Economy, which were determined, assessed  and documented for use by any Nigerian Administration (present and future), as indicated in what follows below. Each National Conference lasted one Working Week.

The 1972 Technology Needs Assessment dealt with the following Sectors of the Economy, namely

1. Agricultural Commodities Production including Food Storage, Food Commodity Marketing, Food Processing, Agro- based Industries, etc. Development
2. Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries,
3. Iron and Steel Industries Development and
4. Telecommunications including ICT Industries development.

In 1973, the High Level National Conference dealt with the Technology Needs Assessment of the following Economic Development Supporting Infrastructure, which were identified , determined / documented , namely

• Road Transport Development
• Railway Transport Development
• Inland Waterways, Marine Transport, and Ports Development
• Water Resources and Supply both for domestic and Industrial Use (urban and Rural)
• Energy Resources Development and Electricity Supply Nationwide.

To ensure the implementation of the above decisions and Recommendations were implemented, the following Institutions were established under National Federal (Central) Government of Nigeria, namely

• Projects Development Agency (PRODA) of old Easts Central State, which was transferred to Federal (Central Government Administration,
• National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP),
• Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) was established to deal with the processing / production of organic Chemicals, Inorganic Chemicals, and Special Chemicals such as Fertilizers and Explosives,
• Ajaokuta and Delta Steel Making Mills, for Sheet Metal production either through Tall Blast Furnace or Direct Reduction Technology, were established,  
• FIIRO was upgraded to a true Research and Development Institute to deal with Food Processing Technologies / Industrial Plants / related industrial processing of Consumer goods items in particular, food items,
• National Institute for Chemical including Petrochemicals Technology, Zaria, was established to produce industrial Chemicals and related Petrochemical Industrial Plants,
• All the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Technology of the Universities were advised to take note of the above in their Academic Teaching and Research, and
• Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), respectively. The Reports of the two National Conferences were deposited in Key Federal Ministries and in NCST Cabinet Office special Science Libraries. As Coordinator of the National Conference I still have all the Proceedings / Recommendations secure in my Personal Library just in Case the Ones deposited in the Key Ministries are, in the Culture of our Record Keeping, lost.  

Under the Civilian Administration of President Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme, Four Special and distinct Universities of Technology, on my Advice, were established, namely Federal University of Technology at Owerri, 1982,  Federal University of Technology ,at Makurdi 1982, Federal University of Technology at Yola, 1982 and Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta 1983 were on my Advice established by the Shagari Administration of 1979-1983 to deal specifically with focus on the following Emerging  Technologies, namely,

(1)  New Materials Technology developments, including Ceramic composites, fine polymers, and new Metals (as strong if not stronger than Steel),
(2) Information Communication Technology developments, including internet connectivity, and new modes of doing Business,
(3) Genetic Technology developments including genetic modification of Crops and livestock,
(4) Brain Technology developments,
(5) Energy Sources related Technology developments, and
(6) Environmentally friendly technology developments to counter Global Climate Warming.

To guide the new Special Universities of Technology, Government decided that I should serve as Council Member of each of the Universities to advise the Councils on what the Universities of Technology are all about. Because of my other Responsibilities, I could only serve in FUTO, FUTM, and FUT Abeokuta respectively

The Question really is, are these programs / Tasks what the Federal Universities of Technology in Nigeria are now involved in and undertaking? You will find that these special Universities have since reverted to Conventional Universities but keeping their Title “University of Technology”. In the same Manner the R&D Institutions in Nigeria have since reverted to Discipline / Problem oriented generalized ill-equipped Scientific Research Activities for Scientific Knowledge Acquisition or discoveries as is the Case in well -equipped normal World Universities. And it seems no Government Ministers / Ministries Ministries, since 1987 when I retired are asking Questions. The only time Question was asked was when my Colleague / Friend of Biafra Technology development Experience, Professor Gordian Ezekwe was Federal Minister of Science and Technology whose Question led to the Establishment of a well-designed / structured National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) which is now trying hard to return the R&D Institutions back to their original Mandate of Technology Development / Production / Industrial Goods Manufacturing Institutions. Thanks to the good Effort of the present Vice Chairman / Chief Executive of NASENI, namely, Professor M. S. Haruna, FNSE,

In conclusion and in order to appreciate Nigeria’s Technological Development and Industrial Goods production and manufacturing problems/ predicament, one may wish to read my Assessment of these Efforts in Epilogue 1, of my Book, 2017 Edition, titled  “Scientific and Technological Innovations in Biafra: The Ogbunigwe Fame”, Second Edition, 2017 as well as my recent Book 2019, titled “Technology and Wealth of Nations”. The Epilogue One, for the benefit of those who do not like to read Books  is titled “Assessment of  Research and Technology Development (R&D) Activities in Nigeria from 1970-2018, compared with R&D Experience in the defunct State of Biafra , 1967-1970”, which I believe is a Must Read for any Nigerian who wishes Nigeria well and who wants Nigeria to develop and leapfrog into domestic  endogenous capability and or capacity for the production of modern Technologies of production and services and for the manufacture of globally competitive industrial goods in her Economy both domestic use and for export to the global World Market. This is the way  to gain foreign Currency and to address Nigeria’s endemic poverty, joblessness, unemployment and related insecurity in our Country. This what the Countries like Japan which did not experience the 18^th and 19^th Century AD Industrial Revolutions that took place in Europe and changed the Scope and Complexity of the World Economy to give Europe / North America, the current Technology, Industrial and Military Power.  . 

My Advice is that for every University with Science and Technology Faculties training manpower for S&T Knowledge Acquisition there should be at least four (4) Polytechnics / Colleges of Technology and thirty (3)0 Technical Colleges respectively training  my power in professional / technical Skills of Technology production / Technology Innovation/ Industrial Goods manufacture in our Country. This is what I observed as an Undergraduate Student in Physics in the late 1950s in Britain a top World Technology and Industrial Power. This is also what I observed during my Visits to Japan, South Korea and China in the late 1990s as onetime Technology Development Consultant to UN Agencies. Also my Experience in Biafra tells me that Technology Innovation, not generalized Research for knowledge acquisition / re-inventing the Wheel which Europe had done for us in the 18^th and 19^th Century Industrial Revolutions, is the way to go for Nigeria’s quick transformation  / leapfrog into a globally competitive Technology and Industrial Nation, as is the case with China South Korea and India.      Finally, I hope my above Observations have done justice to Chief Areole Oyebola’s intriguing but critical Questions on Nigeria’s Technology / Industrialization Status, and will provide a Momentum for Change in Nigeria’s Direction in Science, Technology and Industrial Activities for development in Nigeria and to address Chief Oyebola’s Question, namely “What Manner of a Country is Nigeria”.

Felix N.C. Oragwu, FSAN, MInstP (IOP) London

Former Senior Academic in Physics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), from 1960s,
Head of Research and Development (R&D)  Planning Division / Coordinator of  Technological Services of the Industrial War Machine that operated in the defunct State of Biafra, 1967-1970.
Retired Senior Director in Charge of the Department of Science and Technology (S&T) Policy, Planning and Development of the Federal Government Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) 1979-1987
Former Technology Development Consultant to UNECA, UNDP and UNIDO