Human beings are propelled by the principle of constant progress from less capacity to more capacity. Yet, a two-month-old baby that desires to just run like Usain Bolt without passing through the stages may get frustrated. The stages of lying face-down, supporting the neck, sitting, crawling, standing and walking build the baby’s muscular frame for running. Technological progress is desirable, mainly for underdeveloped nations who wish to create wealth and experience growth. Yet, without patiently learning and creating networks for the early stages of industrial revolutions, underdeveloped nations may remain frustrated in pursuing fourth industrial revolution.
Some Nigerians are unhappy with Nigerian and African inability to compete in the current global level of industrial production. Some insist that Nigerians should overlook the initial stages of production and focus on competing in modern production. Others suggest that Nigeria should simply import and install foreign machines or plants and begin production immediately. Many of these ‘experts’ studied, lived or worked abroad, in society that have organized their social and industrial network for advanced production. However, since these Africans only joined in those societies’ advanced stage, they may not appreciate the difficulty in organizing a society to rise through the industrial revolutions.
Before the 18th century, the means of production across the world was mainly manual and crude. To raise manpower for production, some people made more children[1] while other people raided other societies for slaves.[2] Since there were no modern machines at that time, many slaves were required for different stages of production. Several slaves were needed for the work of a modern tractor, car, crane, ship, cotton-mill or other industrial machines. Eventually, the arrangement of slaves in sections of production inspired thoughts of modern industrial production to replace slaves with machines, and to replace manpower (physical energy, stamina and muscles) with other sources of energy like steam, electricity, oil and gas.
Inspiration from industrial organization of slaves resulted in the first industrial revolution[3] in England (1765) that later spread across Europe. It is the change of production style from human labour to application of largescale steam-energy to operate machines for production.
- First industrial revolution (1765) took energy from coal to heat water until it produced steam to power engines.[4] This introduction of steam-engines brought the culture of using machines for production. With this advancement, it became easier for industrialists to process more mineral resources to produce other machines and consumer goods. This industrial efficiency in processing raw materials drove the search for more natural resources, especially in Africa.
- Second INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (1870) used electric energy, gas and oil to power the engines for mass production. After discovering electric energy, the steam-technology of the first industrial revolution was used to generate electricity by propelling turbines to spin magnets surrounded by copper wire.[5]
The second industrial revolution brought division of labour by organizing different sections of the society to focus on specific production. Thus, one group focuses on iron/steel for engine or car-bodies, another focused on vulcanizing rubber for tyres or fuel. The division of labour brought focus and specialization for different sections and stages of production. The steel industry began to grow with the huge demands for steel. Chemical synthesis developed to bring synthetic fabric, dyes and fertilizer. Methods of communication also changed with the invention of telegraph and telephone, while transportation methods changed with the emergence of automobile and plane at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Third INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (1969) was marked by nuclear energy, and used electronics[6] and information technology to automate production. It marked the shift from mechanical and analogue electronic technology to the digital electronics and computers we use today.[7]
- Today, a fourth INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION is underway which builds upon the third revolution and the digital revolution taking place since the middle of the last century. This fourth revolution combines technology from the physical, digital and biological spheres to fully change industries all over the world.”[8] It could be the first to shift from the energy-greed trend by using alternative renewable resources for production. Tomorrow, factories will be fixed in smart cities and powered by wind, sun and geothermal energy.
The efficacy of modern production with industrial revolutionary technologies inspired other societies to seek industrialized production. The industrial revolutions rose from increased scientific researches, and promoted division of labour as a social condition in modern production.[9] To achieve industrial revolution, the other societies had to adjust their societies to promote research and division of labour. The later industrialized societies (Japan, China, etc.) did not reinvent the wheels, they only observed and learned from industrialized societies. Also, they did not skip learning the basic processes in their rush to compete with pioneers of modern production.[10]
Nigeria and many African countries struggle to choose between appearing productive by importing machines and actually becoming productive by industrializing. Unfortunately, their colonially-imposed social structures seem unsupportive for the necessary industrial conditions of research and division of labour. “Africa’s nation states were formed by foreigners, lines drawn by Europeans on maps of places they had often never been to. They carved out territories, cut up kingdoms and societies of which they had little idea… (African countries) lack a common conception of nationhood.”[11] For obtaining mineral resources for their industries, European colonialists yoked several African kingdoms and communities without consent.[12] Before leaving at independence, they replaced themselves with Europe-trained indigenes to continue getting mineral resources in exchange for consumer goods.[13] So, instead of sectionalizing their society for specialization and industrial collaboration, the imposed governments centralize all communal resources for colonialists and their local allies.
To reach the desired stage of modern productivity, African countries require an attitudinal change in research and social reorganization. The social reorganization becomes more important as societies progress by their agreement to collaborate for productivity and common good. Hence, African nations who wish to climb the ladder or modern productivity for social progress may take the following steps:
- Conduct a comprehensive social research to distinguish the different peoples who were brutally joined together in their countries.
- Invite indigenous scientists and engineers in industrialized societies to teach their people modern production. If their knowledge and expertise is insufficient, include other nationals who are ready to teach at an agreeable cost. Or send intelligent indigenes to learn the process of production in industrialized societies.
- Set up research institutes for testing and experimenting acquired technologies.
- Release the different people’s lands and onshore resources, instead of clinging to the colonial idea of government-ownership of all the peoples’ lands and resources. Releasing people’s lands and resources creates the vital condition for division of labour and specialization towards industrial revolution. Various parts of Nigeria have abundance of specific resources[14] in which they can specialize for industrialization.
- Enable talks between the different groups on modes of exchanging their harvested, processed or semi-processed resources and specialized labour.
- Agree on a benchmark for internal democracy within the different groups in their countries, before agreeing on preferred political structure for a productive partnership and tax.
- Invite or develop companies and industries to utilize the processed and semi-processed resources for higher production.[15]
Though we are not currently interested in competing with already industrialized societies, we do not have to re-invent the wheels. We simply want to be able to own and use our natural resources to solve our problems. Thus, we can leverage on the industrialized societies’ progress to learn and transform our methods and tools of production. Some industrialized societies may be unwilling to assist our industrialization efforts in fear of our independence from their finished goods. In fear of losing cheap mineral resources, they may seek to distract us by injecting conflicts, insecurity, chaos and misinformation. However, even if they wish to frustrate our learning, for our perpetual dependence on them, we must learn and progress! God bless you and humanity!
[1] Many Africans married more wives to get more children who would contribute to farm or other forms of production.
[2] Walter Rodney, How Europe underdeveloped Africa, 2009 edition (Abuja: Panaf publishers, 2009), p.217
[3] Walter Rodney, op. cit. p.210
[4] “The 4 industrial revolutions” in Sentryo, 23rd February, 2017. https://www.sentryo.net/the-4-industrial-revolutions/
[5] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=electricity_generating
[6] It mainly used transistors and microprocessors
[7] Richmond Vale, “The four industrial revolutions in a glimpse” in Richmond Vale Academy, 12th August, 2016. http://richmondvale.org/industrial-revolutions/
[8] Sentryo, op. cit
[9] Richmond Vale, op. cit.
[10] Francis E. Ogbimi, “Solution to mass unemployment in Nigeria” (Ile-Ife: OAU press, 2007) p.140-141
[11] Richard Dowden, Africa altered states, ordinary miracles. New York: Public Affairs, 2010. p.3
[12] S. O. Oyedele, “Federalism in Nigeria” In Issues in contemporary political economy of Nigeria. edited by Hassan A. Saliu. (Ilorin: T.A. Olayeri Publishers, 1999), p.57
[13] Walter Rodney, op. cit.
[14] INEC, Nigeria Atlas of electoral constituencies (Lagos: Cartografx ltd., 2008).
[15] Chukwunwike Enekwechi, “Managing the hypocrisy of international relations” in Restartnaija, 26-6-2018. https://restartnaija.com/2018/06/26/managing-international-relations/ retrieved 9th July, 2018.