ATTAINMENT OF THE 7-POINT AGENDA IN NIGERIA THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The 7-point agenda of the Nigerian President, Musa Umaru Yar’adua is a suitable road map to the quick modernization and industrialization of Nigeria. The agenda touches on the most important aspects of the needs of the people of this country. For instance, adequate supply of power and energy, the effective modernization of education at all levels from primary to tertiary, the beefing up of the system of transportation throughout the country, the departure from the dependence on crude oil to new areas of employment and wealth creation such as in agriculture and solid minerals and the assurance of security especially in Niger Delta zone of the country – all these will give this country a new lease of life never experienced before. This paper, therefore, contains analysis of the bone of contention of the -point agenda as enumerated by the president himself. Namely, power and energy, food security, wealth creation, transportation, land reform, education and security as epitomized in the Niger Delta situation. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the issues involved in achieving the agenda, or otherwise, show the strengths and weaknesses of the various proposals, in relationship with the existing science and technology in this country at the moment, and finally draw conclusion and make recommendations. The science and technology available in this country has already produced very formidable manpower that can handle Nigeria’s current state of development. If, however, there are certain rare areas where suitable technology is not available, the country is rich enough to pay for technology transfer from outside. The re-branding of Nigeria now in progress, though not part of the 7-point agenda, has created excellent opportunities for smoothening the rough edges of the agenda and, hopefully, will act as icing sugar and finishing touches to it. Keywords: Science and technology, the 7-point agenda, development, Nigerian government and the masses.