OPINION: Nigeria’s Awful Innovation Index

 

BY KANMI ADEMILUYI

THE latest Global Innovation Index 2022, a highly rated review published a few days ago, brings predictably awful news. Nigeria did not rank among the top 10 in Africa and was ranked 114 globally! Observing the report, Arise Television’s cerebral economic analyst, Chika Mbonu responded that “ the chickens have come home to roost”. 

His exasperation is widely shared and reflects the conventional wisdom. It has been a long time coming. The irony is not lost that the publication of the report coincides with the “suspension” of the eight months strike embarked upon by the union of public sector university teachers. Obviously, the African countries placed above Nigeria do not shut down their universities for months on end.

In this manner, the disaster was foretold. What is disturbing is that a political elite fixated on elections and weaned on rent-seeking will not ask the problem-solving question which is, “what is to be done?” There is not yet an indication from any of the contestants for the presidency that innovation and competitiveness are high on their list of priorities, this is ridiculous for a country that has signed the Africa Free Trade Agreement and is hobbled by frighteningly high youth unemployment and underemployment.

Other African countries are powering on! A few weeks ago, the outgoing government of President Uhuru Kenyatta admirably initiated a policy thrust making introduction into Coding mandatory from the age of four. Countries like Rwanda have for long blazed the trail with a determined gait. 

It matters of course for the competitiveness of any economy in twenty years is a reflection of today’s education. No wonder Arise TV’s Chika Mbonu was petrified. Nigeria must play catch up. This will start from the bottom up. Coding must be taught from primary school. A determined effort must be made to train a special corps of teachers to do this. There must be a comprehensive curriculum revamp. The private sector should be giving tax credits to assist the government to fund the initiative. 

Efforts have to be intensified on the ease-of-doing-business front, a lot still has to be done. Furthermore, our development finance institutions must set up special desks to fund start-ups and the tech sector. Apart from “angel funding” as well as venture capital, they are in a position to provide the long-term capital and equity funds (the cheapest form of capital) very much needed even indispensable.

So far, the usually garrulous spokespersons have not responded to this review. This says a lot. The issue is far too important to be left to the establishment alone. During the anticipated debates ahead among the presidential candidates, special focus must be beamed on this area and thorough responses must be insisted upon. 

Right now, we are not prepared for the future and this is unfair to generation next as well as to the quest for social cohesion and the desire for peaceful coexistence in one nation.