The Need to Invest in Technological Research: A review of Technology and Development: An African Perspective by Everest Amaefule

Indisputably, the essence of communication is to pass information and therefore should be premised on clarity and codability. This exactly is what Everest, the author does in the book 'Technology and Development: An African Perspective'. 

The book dwells on the effects of such concepts as communication, information, Internet, thought development and critical issues that surround rural and Nation's development with modernism and Africa at heart. Technologically, Africa for ages has received various setbacks and I will be quick to note that African countries will continue to lag behind of the rest of the world because of the low energy and amount invested in technological research.

Agreeable is a fact that the author shares in this book that Nigerians especially youths are seamlessly becoming undetached to the internet - social media, and that technology plays an indispensable role towards understanding the modern Nigeria. A question one may likely want to ask, based on some other discussions in the book is that, is Nigeria a modern state?  But then, to see the book being creatively written by a person with deep roots in academic communication and developmental studies verifies the rich content. The book has nine chapters that span across diverse topics on the current digital age of communication as it concerns Africa.

In reality, the author succeeds in getting the attention of policy makers, communication practitioners, lectures and students of sociology, political science, Public Adminstration, etc. because of the unmatched content and how the book strikes the balance in discussing topical issues on the nexus between technology and development in Nigeria. 

Amidst all these, the book subtly discusses the subject of colonisation and information divides as it affects economic and technological growth of most African countries, citing South Africa as an example. In his narratives, Everest observes that: 

'...  as the last decade in the 20th century wore on, it became apparent that while the information poor nations (African countries) were busy lamenting overmedia imperialism, the rest of the world had been laying the foundation for a new communication infrastructure that would ridicule the former achievements in media technologies.'

While one cannot shy away from the Cyber pessimists that acknowledge the new achievements and the development of the internet with the invention of the World Wide Web have all caused a digital divide among countries of the world, the book categorically affirms that the internet and the continuous creation of websites and web pages have helped individuals and countries to be heard in a global arena. One notable mention here is the role of the internet in the election of Mr Barrack Obama as the President of the United States in 2008. And again, can we all attest to the fact that the internet has now become a weapon? Or we say it is born out of fear and needs to compete? Anyway, you should know and attest to the fact that its role in the Endsars protests in Nigeria is unimaginable. 

The deep informative historic narration that the book offers schools all on the creation and the activities of MIT, DARPA, IPTO, RAND, ARPANET, MILNET, NSF, etc and the events involving USSR and the United States with respect to spacecrafts and the power to launch a nuclear attack.

Again, the book doesn't fail to critically examine the current state of insecurity in the country from a technological point of view. Among several issues it discuses, one that strikes me the most is the question, 'Where is DICON?' That the country is currently challenged by the gorilla groups called Boko Haram is no news (as it has not only disrupted public activities, killed many citizens but also has enslaved the nation's peace) but what is worrisome is the news that the military allegedly keeps hiring mercenaries and the country can't manufacture arms and ammunition to combat insurgencies and other terrorist activities. The author is really worried about the current state of DICON, an establishment that was incredibly relevant to the Nigerian state during the civil war that broke out on July 6, 1967. Perhaps more reason he asks: 

'Is the threat of Islamist terrorism not sufficient enough opportunity to reinvent the country's capacity to arm itself?'

The book notes that threats should provide nations the opportunities to develop technologically, acquire enough capacities, but when a country strongly believes in outsourcing its challenges, it squanders the opportunities to wing itself to be among self-respecting nations of the world. Really, I do think here that the author is trying to be modest in his engagement and in saying that our leaders lack (technological) vision. And thus, if we will ever be technologically great and be respected among committees of great nations, we need to be conscious in our efforts to develop science and technology, since technological competitiveness lies in the effectiveness with which countries promote capabilities. 

In here, the author demands innovative technology and that government should begin to think of the technological challenges that come with the 21st century. Unfortunately, even in all sectors, Nigeria is only in the 21st century on papers. 

The author suggests that government should be intentional and dynamic in its policies and that efficient technology use goes beyond importing or renaming, it also involves capacity building and mastery of new technologies. With modesty, he notes that Nigeria currently lack technological content and perhaps meant that it lacks the diligent drivers like Park Tae-joon. In fact, the hearts aching stories of NEPA and the Nigerian Steel Industry, Ajaokuta Steel Complex come to the fore.  

Therefore, (African) leaders should channel their energies to combating and finding ways to solve the problems affecting the development of science and technology in the country, Nigeria. 

REVIEWER

Busayo Fakunle is a Phonics consultant, poet, publisher, English language tutor, an editor, author of children's literary texts, book analyst/seller, fellow, Ebediwriters Residency  and CEO, Hope Alive Educational Consultancy. He is currently the Public Relations Officer of the  Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Oyo State Chapter .

Fakunle Busayo Nsi

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