Chapter 1
Social Infrastructure
Social infrastructure is inevitably essential to the growth and development of any nation. Countries of the world set aside for infrastructure colossal amounts of money in their budgets. They understand the importance of social amenities towards sustained development. Advanced nations of the world are improving or upgrading the already-put-in-place infrastructure to ensure their citizens exercise creativity and other potentials as valuable contributions advancement of set goals and objectives. Developing nations –like Nigeria---have, are and will continually seek for what could be termed basic amenities to make life easier for its citizenry.
No doubt, Education has played a pivotal role in establishing the presence of infrastructure to make life comfortable for people. Great men and women in history, through their unwavering character, have unequivocally depicted to the world what the propensity of being learned can do in the development of their places of abode. A typical example is Peter, The Great of Russia.
He was such a man of great erudition whose historical marks in the landscape of Russia are an inspiration to many leaders who prioritize education. The article, Peter, The Great Biography from the website, www.biography.com, states: ‘Peter…recruited experts to educate his people about technological advancement…’ This was at the time where, according to the same article, ‘...Peter inherited a nation that was severely underdeveloped compared to the culturally prosperous European countries…’ Russia had serious issues with availability of social infrastructure. The article continues: ‘While the renaissance and reformation swept through Europe, Russia rejected westernization and remained isolated from modernization. Peter the Great was knew the worth of education. His character was a commensurate of the kind of person he was. The article asserts that ‘Peter was a far-sighted and skillful diplomat…’ The realization of educating his people on advancement epitomized his goal of establishing in 1712 St. Petersburg. The city, according to the article, ‘was (shortly after) deemed Russia’s Window to Europe’. St. Petersburg is a city to behold in terms of the state-of-the art modern infrastructure and eco-friendly edifices situated on the busy Neva River. Thus, Russia transformed from being archaic and isolated from modernization to an embodiment of a state of advanced infrastructure. Thanks, of course to the assiduousness of Peter the great, his priority on education as the pivot to Russia’s reformation.
The city of Dubai proves the essence of government co-operating with the people in positioning education at the fore-front of development. In the 60s, Dubai was a desert. However, the city is one of today’s tourist attractions. In the early 90s, Dubai had just one skyscraper. It is recorded that before 2018, the city has over 143 skyscrapers. This feat was made possible through the clear-thinking efforts of the leader of the posterity-conscious United Arab Emirate, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Al Maktoun. Follow the link on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1oX9L6e6_Q for more information. He understands the germane of education as it illuminates advancement in terms of character, transparency, knowledge and posterity. ‘Sheikh ‘Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai is a leader of par excellence whose vision has transformed Dubai into world most attractive investment destination as well as global business hub. Sheikh Mohammed is known for being a truly inspirational man. After all, he’s helped guide Dubai from a dusty city into the bustling modern metropolis of today. Sheikh Mohammed is known for being a man of the people, and can be seen in the videos speaking about how tough parts of his upbringing turned him into the man he is today, and how he wants only the best for the Emirates’
Can the priority of education, as depicted in the presence of infrastructure, be asserted? Though the present situation of the nation seems unlikely, there was once a time! Olajire Olalokun, author of the book, The Legend: Chief Obafemi Awolowo, published by Latern Books , said: ‘When Awolowo became the leader of government, only 178 miles of the road in Western Nigeria were tarred. There were 38 hospitals and 938 beds in the region. Of these hospitals only 15 were owned by the government…In terms of education …only 35 per cent were schooling from the west. Furthermore, there were six secondary schools per million in the west…By 1953, the number of secondary schools in the west was 40…’ Awolowo, being a tink-tank, saw the need to create more schools and involve more young people, knowing well that the youths are to be trained as future leaders. The result? The book continues: ‘…by 1959, the number of secondary schools had risen to 159 and the population of pupils grew from 6,775 pupils in 1952 to 84, 374 in 1959.’ The Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo saw the need to make basic primary education for all and sundry at no cost. ‘Free primary education started in 1955’ (Page 75). Awolowo, due to his acquired education was a master strategist. The author writes: ‘He had foresight and was a consummate planner. He realized that there was a need to train the people beyond primary and secondary levels. His government provided 80,000 Pounds in the estimate, for 200 post-secondary scholarships tenable in Britain…’ He also focused on health, since, as the saying goes, health is wealth. ‘Mobile dispensaries’ according to the author,’ were established to take health care to remote areas. This was in addition to free health care for people under eighteen years.’ (Page 76).
That is what education does in the lives of people: builds character. With the support of the government through the conceptualization of education-friendly policies and the involvement of the people, the provision and advancement of social infrastructure will be made possible and available for all and sundry to use and would create platforms for people whose education would tenaciously inspire their creativity and other potentials towards making meaning impacts.
However, what happens when the government declines to prioritizing education thereby denying the people their involvement or co-operation? The answer to the question has been responsible for the unhealthy social climate in today’s Nigeria. Lack of good roads (even in some urban areas like Lagos) has made transportation a tough-nut-to-crack experience. The road situations in many parts of Nigeria are tantamount to causing several carnages! Unhealthy water supply and foods have been seen plaguing the lives of many especially in remote areas. The ill-equipped health care facilities and limited medical personnel have exacerbated the declining health sector and as a consequence, leaving the people to their plights which, in some ways, permit them to resort into the harmful self-medication exercise. When there are no resultant education-orientated policies on health, such discrepancies are bound to occur. Housing in Nigeria, especially cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, are on the high side. It is difficult for a commoner to get even a room apartment whereas the Late Obafemi Awolowo, then in government, ensured that ‘The Western Nigerian Housing Corporation was established to ease shortage of houses in large urban areas and encourage ownership by the generality of the citizens…’ (The Legend: Chief Obafemi Awolowo by Olajire Olanlokun by Latern books. Page77-78).
In Nigeria, social infrastructure, or what could be termed ‘basic amenities’ are the recognized
1) Road network
2) Water and food supply
3) Shelter/accommodation
4) Power
At this juncture, we will be focusing on the issue of power generation. This erratic and irregular supply of power underscore one of the rationale small and even medium scale businesses are struggling to gain footing. Large scale businesses would have to spend colossal amounts of money on acquiring alternative power sources like the fuel- and diesel-using generating plants, solar power and inverter devices. Irregular power supply in Nigeria has made multi-national corporations like Dunlop, Michellin Tyres, and Beverage-producing companies to move to neighboring countries to avoid incurring incessant costs to acquire alternative power generators.
The article, Nigeria’s Infrastructure: A Continental Perspective by Vivien Foster and Natalaliya Pushak, February 2011 states: ‘…inoperative generation capacity and lack of investment mean that the country has been able to meet only about half of its power demand…’ When the government of the day has refused to create a level-playing ground with the co-operation of technocrats who would implement education-ascertained policies on effective power generation, what should be expected of its power supply rating? Though budgets have, over the years, been ear-marked towards power generation, the actuality, when it comes to implementation, leaves the average Nigerian citizen baffled. Due to incompetence, negligence and mismanagement, the power sector becomes a cause for concern. For this reason, article states: ‘…A further $2.5 billion a year is being lost at federal level due to inefficiencies of various kinds, most of them associated with the power sector…’ Talking about incompetence and mismanagement, the article puts it this way: ‘…the underpricing of electricity is by far the single-largest source of inefficiency...’
If the issue of infrastructural challenges in Nigeria is to be properly addressed, the Article argues that ‘(it) will require sustained expenditure of almost $14.2 billion a year, over the next decade, or about 12 percent of GDP’. However, with the over-the-years negligence on the part of the government, its unwillingness to synergize with the people in terms of favorable education-related policies, ineffectiveness of appointed officials to man the sector and consequent mismanagement in all fronts, there will be, as always, low-budget execution. The consequence? ‘Low capital budget is also (will always be) an issue across the infrastructural sector.’ says the article.
What happened to the social infrastructure laid out by the Late Obafemi Awolowo over three decades ago? It can be asserted that the negligence of previous government towards the maintenance, upgrade and practical unwillingness to co-operate with dependable technocrats (educated minds whose competence cuts across this area of concern) towards coming up auspicious education-based policies have been the factors of necessary for the poor state of infrastructure in Nigeria today.
When small scale businesses continually struggle to stay afloat the drowning waters of dilapidating infrastructure, it becomes very likely such businesses come to an end. When medium scale businesses are confronted with the issue of power challenge, the probability of adjusting its labor strength (through retrenchment and slashing the salaries of workers) will not be not out sight. When large-scale businesses, like multi-corporations, are faced with poor social infrastructure, the likelihood of cutting to size their work-force, slashing drastically the paid salaries of workers and possibly closing up their enterprises would be considered.