The quest for Nigeria's industrialization and industrialisation by countries of the world, even in this era of growth in Information Technology, has continued to witness geometric rise, especially in the African continent. This is against the behind-the-scene drive by some world powers to keep Africa as solely agrarian and/or mineral resources' haven for their Industries - Industries tasked with converting raw products from Africa into finished products, and importing same into the continent for sale. A  typical example of this is the exportation of petroleum from Nigeria and the importation of petroleum products derived from same exported petroleum.

Picture Credit: BOPGists

In Nigeria, the abundance of agrarian and/or mineral resources will continue to astound the world. While the publicly-known natural/mineral resources like petroleum, bitumen, coal, iron ore, limestone, uranium, zamfara, tin, baryte, gypsum, cassiterite, lead, dolomite, gold, zinc, manganese, talc, silicon, marble, kaolin, columbite, granite, feldspar, mica, diatomaceous earth, copper, and phosphate, arguably making the country the biblical Garden of Eden, have placed Nigeria in a pedestal of highly-coveted nations by other nations, the least publicised ones of lithium, used for batteries (rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles), and californium, useful in nuclear power plant, detecting trace elements in samples by using neutron activation analysis, detecting fuel rods, neutron radiography and portable metal detectors, and used to treat many brain and cervical cancers, are the future of the country with the highest number of melanated people in the world. Therefore the need for Nigeria's industrialisation is a call to be made by all Africans.

Picture Credit: Vanguard News

The quest to keep African nations agrarian and/or as haven for mineral resources, is however not a recent development, and as such, should not be misconstrued as such. In the 19th Century when palm oil was a highly-sought after product by Britain - used to lubricate their machineries, being one of first industrialised nations of the world, the nation later-to-be called Nigeria had been sold as a product to the British by Sir George Dashwood Taubman Goldie of the Royal Niger Company (formally United African Company, and then the National Africa Company) for 865 thousand Euros in 1899. This sale was solely orchestrated to retain the status of the country as pool for agrarian products. While Agric Products may have seemingly dwindled in relevance, mineral resources on the other hand has tethered the nation more to world powers - developmentally and/or destructively, and for or against Nigeria's industrialisation. 

Sir George Dashwood Taubman Goldie 

Considering that America's business life in Nigeria constitute about 45 companies with a little to none of them into the mass production of non-consumable products in the nation, Britain's presence; reducing by the minute, Russia; hoping to come in through the Ajaokuta Steel Company, and China; increasing its presence not only in Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole, with Companies like CCECC (Construction Company), New Watson Doors (Doors Production), and Valued Alliance Electrical Industry Limited (Electrical Fittings Production), it is no news that the next decade or two, the Chinese may well be the power that will drive the Nigeria's industrialisation and that of the continent, while America continues to champion Information Technology in Africa, and India; IT the world.

                                                        Chinese Flag                                                                                                      

American Flag

But, while this is a plus for the continent, care must be taken by governments of African nations to guide against exploitation as was experienced and still seen in the purposeful destruction of African seedlings, which have been and are still being replaced by foreign ones in the detriment of not only African seedlings, but African soil as well. It should not be hastily forgotten that the sanctions placed on Zimbabwe for decades as a result of Robert Mugabe's stance on Whites' artificially-cultivated favourable position, was only impactful because of the over-reliance on foreign seedlings and other goods. Industrialization may be argued to be a distant cousin to agriculture, but exploitation is universal and transcends sectors. This should be noted by proponents of Nigeria's industrialisation.

 Picture Credit: BusinessDay

It is therefore rewarding to note that in Nigeria, there is an immigration policy that all foreign expatriates must have at least 2 Nigerian understudies working with them. If this is followed to the letter, it will not only increase the nation's employment ratio, but will guarantee a pool of trained professionals in sensitive and highly-important positions. While this may not necessarily be the only pool to source for trained professionals for Nigeria's industrialisation, as the country has and is still witnessing brain drain which may eventually become beneficial in the long run when there is a positive shift for the nation, this pool will keep the nation from sinking. China may have greatly planned their industrialization, Nigeria can learn from them at least.

While it is no news that the People's Republic of China's industrialization came in different facets and times, the fact that in 1952, just about 70 years ago, none less than 83 percent of Chinese were employed in agriculture, and it was a year after that, that Mao introduced a 'Five Year Plan' reminiscent of Soviet industrialization efforts, which was also followed by the Soviet Union's assistance in providing the most-advanced technology available within the Soviet Union to China, it gives credence to the fact that the quest for industrialization by African nations must start from a personal angle, and mustn't necessarily be supported by nations of the world publicly celebrated in the media.

It will suffice to say that neither China, nor Russia - two nations of the world projected to become very powerful in the near future, practice the American democracy. This is probably because they understand that it won't work for them. In Nigeria where leaders are mostly driven by their selfish desires rather than been nationalistic, where there are too many ethnicities and 3 religions, where the first 4 years in office is divided into 2 - 2 years of paying back political contributors and 2 years of planning for the next election, and where the next 4 years if successful at election is about making money personally, the American brand of democracy may not exactly be suited for us. Nigeria may just be one of those few nations of the world where it is necessary to strengthen our institutions even more, and inundate our leaders, especially the President with a healthy number of years in office. This way, as seen in Libya under Muammar Gaddafi, Russia under Putin, China under Xi, North Korea under Kim Jong-un, and a host of others, the leader is cured of his tendency for thievery and pettiness so quickly, and concentrates on leaving a legacy of Nigeria's industrialisation.

If Africa's industrialisation must be a reality, Nigeria's industrialisation is a must-have. Nigeria, being the most-populated nation in Africa must take the reins of leadership and lead. This is a matter the next elected President of the country must put at heart and in mind before being sworn in.



By: 

Bello Omokhowa Precious

History & International Relations Graduate

Author of 'The Blacksmith', and 'The Crook's Honour'. Available on Amazon.

Researcher and Writer