First, the future is in knowledge-based goods and Nigeria (and other African countries) should be investing in capacity to produce such goods. That calls for the strengthening of processes for human capital accumulation--primarily educational institutions, especially at the primary and secondary levels.
Second, a country does not decide that it wants to produce this or that particular good. That determination is made by the market based on comparative advantage since the good produced must be competitive in both price and quality at the global level. Hence, what Nigeria needs to do is invest in the capacity to produce goods (any goods) at a globally competitive price and quality. And that calls for, again, investment in education.
Finally, Nigeria should provide an institutional structure that enhances entrepreneurship and wealth creation. This is the way.
On Tue, Feb 2, 2016 at 9:36 AM, Victor Okafor <vokafor@emich.edu> wrote:
--On the one hand, it's good news that Nigeria looks forward to rejuvenating its productive capacity, specifically by producing/manufacturing its own pencils. On the other hand, given where things are in this 21st century when well-positioned and well-managed nations/societies are engaging in high tech and advanced systems manufacturing in various industrial sectors and the best of them-all are, in fact, looking forward to sending a mission to MARS, the fact that Nigeria is simultaneously just on the threshold of manufacturing something as technologically elementary as a pencil, does say something (does it not?) about how far the nation has retrogressed, and not progressed, in science and technology.
From: "Oluwatoyin Adepoju" <oluwasrividya@gmail.com>
To: "USAAfricaDialogue" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2016 8:17:31 AM
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - We'll Start Making Pencils In Nigeria By 2018 – Onu, Nigerian Minister Of Technology [A Serious Presentation on Logistics of Production]------------ Forwarded message ----------
From: Little Boy thinklillies@gmail.com [Naijadreamteamintellectuals] <Naijadreamteamintellectuals@yahoogroups.co.uk>
Date: 1 February 2016 at 13:59
Subject: [Naijadreamteamintellectuals] We'll Start Making Pencils In Nigeria By 2018 – Onu, Minister Of Technolog
We'll Start Making Pencils In Nigeria By 2018 – Onu, Minister Of Technology
EDITOR JANUARY 31, 2016 8:59 PM NEWS
Share
Tweet
Share
Ogbonnaya Onu, the minister of science and technology, says Nigeria will start producing its own pencils in another two years, as part of a wholesale production-sector revamp to be witnessed in the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Onu expressed assurance that the plan would have a "meaningful impact" on the economy, because the wide aim of the ministry is to "commercialise developed ideas and research findings to principal levels".
He dismissed questions over the importance of pencil production, saying Nigerians would be amazed at the multiplier effects, which will include the creation of at least 400,00 jobs.
"Yes, I have heard questions on why pencils. We chose pencils to symbolize the problems that we have and our commitment to local production," he said.
"To produce pencils, we need wood, graphite, rubber for the eraser and possibly, we will need aluminium to hold the rubber in place. Then, we may need paint to give it colour. But even if we don't add paint or rubber, already we have a pencil and it will write.
"Now, we have all the things to produce a pencil, which is used by a large number of people from our young pupils to engineers, and it looks simple to produce, yet we have not been able to produce it. That is why we talked about producing pencils.
"We have asked PRODA (the Projects Development Agency) to ensure Nigeria starts producing pencils in two years. It is actually not PRODA's mandate to produce the pencils. No. PRODA is just to do the holistic research on pencil production in Nigeria. Somebody can start producing pencils here and will still be importing the wood, the graphite, the rubber, bringing in everything. No, that is not what we want.
"We want PRODA to do research to make the production process totally local. We have to treat the graphite to conform to the required standard for good quality production. We also have to work on the type, quality and shape of the wood to be used. The local content will also be total. This is PRODA's assignment.
"When PRODA is through with its job, it is the private sector that will come in to do the production and we will see the benefits. When production of pencils begins, Nigerians will be amazed at the multiplier effects. It will create a minimum of 400,00 jobs. There will be the small-scale entrepreneurs that will do the beneficiation of the graphite, that is, prepare it for pencil production; there will be small-scale entrepreneurs that will prepare the rubber to be used as an eraser for pencils; and there will also be small-scale entrepreneurs that will also prepare the wood for the appropriate use. Can we imagine creating jobs for 100,000 people. The results will be amazing!"
He expressed worry that Nigeria has no single pencil-producing factory, despite the ease of required technology.
"PRODA has confirmed that there is not a single pencil-producing factory in Nigeria and even in West Africa. This is why we are worried. We know this is a technology we can easily handle. Beyond that, the number of jobs we will create in starting pencil production is very encouraging. It will also be good for the image of the nation," he said.
"The pencil-production idea will make meaningful impact on the economy. It will certainly do. The wide aim of the ministry is to commercialise ideas, research findings, etc that we have developed to principal levels. And there are so many of them.
"We are working with the organized private sector. The National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group had visited us here; they had never done that until now. We are making them understand we have taken a big risk off them by doing research and development and clearing the pitfalls, so theirs is to come in and invest
"The FIIRO (Federal Institute of Industrial Research) alone has developed more than 250 research studies up to the point of commercialization. And in incubation, we have an agency in charge that has done up to 1000 products. I have many of the products myself, and these are things we use on daily basis. Our major task now is to get these products into the market, but if they are not commercialised, and maintained, how can people know they exist? We can then start creating jobs. Government will also start earning revenues from the taxes these producers will pay to government to do many things."
Onu also spoke on his recent visits to China and Indonesia for partnerships towards developing Nigeria's science and technology sector, especially in local production.
He described the visits as a success, saying many of the agreements that were "reached" would boost local production. He also expressed optimism that Nigeria will be Africa's technology hub by 2026.
OGBONNAYA ONUPENCILS
Share
Tweet
Share
RELATED POSTS
SEE ALL
Speaker Dogara Mourns Olubadan Of Ibadanland
We've Rendered Boko Haram Homeless, Confused – President Buhari
Following Osun Success, School Feeding Programme Begins In Ghana
Privitization Of Govt. Agencies: NLC, Okorocha Set For War
Dasukigate: N4.7b Traced To The Account Of Obanikoro's Sons
Newly Sworn-in Governor Yahaya Makes Three Appointments
21 People Looted N54bn Through Dasuki – Lai Mohammed
Pa Ngige Left Good Legacies – OsinbajoSent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.__._,_.___
Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a new topic • Messages in this topic (1) 
.
__,_._,___
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
JOHN MUKUM MBAKU, ESQ.
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & John S. Hinckley Fellow
Department of Economics
Weber State University
1337 Edvalson Street, Dept. 3807
Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
(801) 626-7442 Phone
(801) 626-7423 Fax
J.D. (Law), Ph.D. (Economics)
Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Attorney & Counselor at Law (Licensed in Utah)
Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of Economics & John S. Hinckley Fellow
Department of Economics
Weber State University
1337 Edvalson Street, Dept. 3807
Ogden, UT 84408-3807, USA
(801) 626-7442 Phone
(801) 626-7423 Fax
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
No comments:
Post a Comment