Renowned scholar and university administrator, Professor Toyin Falola has called on African leaders to prioritise the development of the continent particularly in the face of growing technological advancement, just as he cautioned that there must be a deliberate adoption of cultural approaches in the delivery of technical education.

 

The celebrated professor of African history with his base at the University of Texas at Austin, USA, gave this charge while delivering a lecture titled: “Technology, Technical Education, Culture and Society,” held on Wednesday at the Federal College of Education, Akoka, in Lagos.

 

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Prince Yemisi Shyllon said the institution was lucky to have Professor Falola as a guest lecturer because he embodies a wealth of knowledge that is rare, adding that Falola is one of the most celebrated university dons across the globe.

 

In his lecture, Falola averred, while speaking on culture and technology in the contemporary world, that “Technology is not necessarily a contradiction of culture. It is a way of developing the current cultural approaches to things. The advancement of technology has evidently been responsible for the distribution of European culture. Although using the same for Africa might look late but might also be a way of spreading African culture. Take an example of Southern Americans’ worship of African gods and the practice of African culture.

 

“Cultures do not just start in a vacuum, they are developed discoveries and approaches that have endured through time and they include technological breakthroughs that have today been considered artifacts or at best obsolete. Hence, the present technological developments, if they endure for a long time, will become the cultures of tomorrow that may also be replaced with another technology. An example is the predominance of IT and the general involvement of the youth in the technology industry.”

 

He therefore advised that “There is a need to examine technical education in the ancient Nigerian culture and society. Methods in which technical procedures and technological knowledge are passed across to the “students” or those receiving the education. There is a need for the adoption of culture and cultural approaches in technical education. This will allow easy and quick assimilation. For instance, if technical courses or processes are developed and taught in a way that African languages have ready representations, explanations, and words for them, the level of understanding would be increased. The adoption of culture in new technologies is important in order not to leave people behind.

 

“Technical Education must also target the older generation of people that are very convinced about their cultural approaches. This is because technological products are not useful only to the youth or the new generation but to all. The tendency of a technology in the Western world and the unconscious efforts of adopting it in Africa could be something Africans should be worried about. Enthronement of technology over culture and popular way of life might be too radical and may break the sociological threads of African society.

 

“Technology can consume valuable cultural values that are supposed to still be beneficial to society. Social decadence and increase in social vices could be the results of the adoption of new developments and technology without sieving out the parts that are not favourable when considering the cultural history of the people.

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“The enthronement of technological advancement over African culture might be considered a subtle means of neo-colonialism. Where access to these developments is either not directly available in Africa or requires certain commitments, it creates a level of control. The place of society in the coexistence of modern technology and culture. How have the two been responsible for Nigerian development and what has Nigeria benefited from them?

 

“There is a need to emphasize local entrepreneurship. I want to suggest, however, an emphasis by higher education leadership on three months practical technical education/apprenticeship for students with roadside artisans (welders, mechanics, saw millers etc.). The aim is to get students to learn the basics in the skills & knowledge of the practical side of the business. How can the co-existence of the two concepts help in resolving Nigeria’s current predicaments that are hindering development? Our youth must lead us to success.

 

“African government should prioritize development. Without that, we are wasting our time with other recommendations. No nation or people will make significant societal progress without consciously planning for it, and providing the enabling environment, policies, incentives, strategies and pathways for development. Individuals may prosper in the current inimical state of affairs, but as a nation and as a continent, a developmental mindset is needed to move us to the promised land.”

 

Chairman, Governing Council, Federal College of Education (FCE), Akoka, Adamu Muazu stated that this discourse is very germane to the institution apart from physical structure. This was just as he also stated that the institution takes care of the needs of the staff as they have emphasized the need for well experienced and motivated workforce.

 

Provost of the college, Dr. Wahab Azeez assured that the institution would strive to network with international researchers to make this institution one of the leading colleges to enrich the content of the institution’s curriculum for the benefit of staff and students.

 

“An event like this is a testimony to the creation of institutions like ours. As a provost, it is my responsibility to attract best brains and personalities to support our area of focus. The college was established to provide technical and academic training to students. We appreciate those who have taken time to be here today. We will strive to make sure we network with international researchers to make this institution one of the leading colleges to enrich the content of our curriculum for the benefit of staff and students. Today marks another epoch making event in the history of this college which was established since 1967. The theme captures a lot of areas. The array of personalities here justified the importance of today’s lecture,” he said.