Adopting  Indigenous Technology

FOR a nation to withstand competition in this era of globalization, there is need for such to identify its niche areas and build on it by the application of scientific methods. It has been argued that indigenous technologies present excellent possibilities in this regard.

NIGERIA is greatly blessed with gifted hands that are laboriously engaged in various types of indigenous technologies. There is hardly any part of the country that does not have a remarkable indigenous technology to show for its existence.

THE indigenous industries among others include the production of pots from clay and aluminum metal scraps, textile making, cloth weaving, bronze casting, leather tanning and the like, in various parts of the country. The indigenous knowledge supporting these industries is generally passed on from generation to generation and hence it is a tradition in specific locations to produce specific products. The method of indigenous knowledge transmission and skills acquisition is largely through observation and apprenticeship.

A nation aiming to develop technologically needs to adopt more drastic protectionist policies in respect of importation of certain products for which indigenous substitutes exist.  Unless such people are encouraged one would just notice them fading out and their ambitions dying with them.

EVOLUTION of technology in Nigeria must be a movement involving unskilled and skilled tradesmen- motor and motor cycle mechanics, gold and blacksmiths, technicians even potters and everybody that can use his or her hands. The best technology is one which evolves from our environment. China and India as developing nations have excelled in the exploitation of indigenous technologies. The advanced technologies that we see today in the developed nations were not just grabbed after waking up from slumber but are results of long years of trial and failures and gradual successes in research work.

THE state and Federal governments in Nigeria should take up the challenges of our indigenous investors and researchers.

THE HOPE believes that the wealth of a nation is the fountain of it’s strength and any country which depends on imported technology for much of its needs would never develop  a buoyant economy because the industrialized nations use their technology to exploit the underdeveloped nations of their resources.

GOVERNMENT must show interest in encouraging and developing technology from the primary school level to tertiary institutions and not only that, the talented artisans, roadside mechanics and fabricators should also be encouraged to come up with their inventions.

WE suggest that each state adopt indigenous technology the recent example of the Governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu cannot be forgotten.  He engaged the services of indigenous artisans like mechanics and panel beaters to bring back on roads some abandoned government vehicles.

IT is our belief that state governments should issue patent laws for fabricators and other proven artisans by also giving them guided education. Technologies that are adaptable to certain areas should be developed. And those inventing should know that it’s not political.

OUR position is that we have no choice other than to develop our own indigenous technology for it is only by doing this we could survive as a people and as a sovereign nation.

PATRONIZING and encouraging indigenous technology we are in a long way conversing the huge sums of money in foreign exchange.

FUTHERMORE it should be noted that National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure  (NASENI ) is presently making efforts to produce rotary furnaces with capacity and cheaper costs for immediate deployment in micro and small scale industries. Government’s role within this context will involve the provision of funding and equipment as well as capacity building.

THIS could be done through organized associations, co-operative societies or micro-finance banks. Support could also come from government in form of providing organised sources of raw materials and greater access to markets particularly outside Nigeria.