Topic: Harnessing Science and Technology to address Development Challenges
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: John Bradtke
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Nigeria position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
The nation of Nigeria is one of the most oil rich nations in all of Africa. Yet, Nigeria is still developing technologically in order to export this valuable natural resource to the rest of the world. The developmental challenges we face as Nigeria include poor telecommunication networks, poor internet networks, and lacking infrastructure. Nigeria only records having approximately 418,200 phones in the country, all working on a poor network connection. It is known that increased technology can also lead to increased life expectancy, as well as increased literacy rates; two things which Nigeria is struggling to improve upon.
Nigeria is struggling with developing the technology available to the population in order to stay competitive with other nations. We believe that improving the technology available will lead to many economic improvements. Things such as paved roads, airports, and safe trade and travel would all be positively effected by having a more technological society. All of these aspects of infrastructure lead to easier and safer trade, and in turn larger economic gains. The strategy of boosting infrastructure with the new technologies available works well, however, these can not be improved without aid from nations that are already technologically developed.
To educate more Nigerian citizens in the STEM fields, outside funding and support is needed from technological nations. Without outside aid, Nigeria does not have the ability to educate its citizens to the extent that other nations could. Nigeria will continue to advance, but at a much slower rate compared to the more technological nations. Numbers show that we lack in the categories that indicate strong STEM fields, as Nigeria only has 1,234 internet hosts, and only one of one hundred citizens possess a cell phone. In addition to educating the current workforce, Nigeria would benefit by incorporating mathematics and science courses into the curriculum for the younger up and coming generations. This will set up the next generation of the work force with the education needed to get these competitive and important STEM jobs. With improved technology education through outside aid, STEM jobs would become more abundant and Nigeria would have the ability to utilize its vast natural resources and maximize its trade potential.
