Technology attitude and innovation – Chris Uwaje
How do we rebrand Nigeria’s technology identity and superior character?
Nigeria or Naija? What brand are we offering – Nigeria or Naija?
As we commence the search for technology identity for the nation, it becomes instructive to interrogate how we proceed to deliver constructive innovation and earn distinguished recognition. To this end, we are challenged to recall our memories in the art of global football competitions as formidable conquerors.
There was a time we ruled that landscape and known as ‘Nigeria’. Then we eloped from the name Nigeria to ‘Flying Elephant’, then to ’Green Eagles’ – and to what is next? We can assume that other dreamers would admire to further elope to Naija! Really. I believe that Nigeria is, against all odds, a formidable brand concept in the global arena-of-Things. Why are we murdering the brand?
Why/What indeed is Naija (9aija?)? Instructive survey would reveal that of the 200million of us, no one expertly knows what Naija is. Hence, respondents may serve us with 200million ambiguous answers! Also, no one can dispute the fact that when it comes to football; FIFA and other organised bodies of the cherished game had never written Naija as a competitor on their organisational Billboard.
Never! Most successful football nations are branded as Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, England, Egypt, Ghana, Croatia, Belgium, etc. Why Naija?
According to the technology brand master of our time, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh; Chairman of the ZINOX Group: ‘a brand must have a distinct character, send the message of the mission and above all, must be visibly consistent’.
In his brand mission, Leo Stan encapsulated its vision as ‘Anticipate the future’.
The attitudinal brand is the ultimate vehicle that builds, drives and supports a nation and her future generations to sustainable success. Therefore, it is the technology attitude that delivers the quality assurance of the product and trustworthiness.
So, what has attitude got to do what technology innovation and development? In a research paper on Ecological Economics ‘A framework of attitudes towards technology in theory and practice’ by Christian Kerschner and Melf-Hinrich Ehlers (Science Direct – atrend analysis of Eurobarometer data), shows that “attitudes towards science and technology are diversifying in the EU, with enthusiasm clearly losing out to more ambivalent stances”.
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It gave a technology insight on attitudes and explores the difficulties of teachers, scholars and mentors to consistently articulate their techno-attitudes. Therefore, formation of technology attitude covers many fields. The four distinct domains include: Environment, Education (the teachers and students) Family and Governance. Several studies have shown that attitude formed the earlier development of technology and innovation out of Africa.
Recently, we have seen the debut of Konga Health as a post COVID-19 booster to economic recovery. This tech-driven response is built on attitude of distinct entrepreneurship. In his findings, Paul E. Lovejo on ‘African Contributions to Science, Technology and Development’ states that: ‘Once the African contributions to science and technology are examined, it is possible to counter the ignorance and racialized interpretations that have been extended to people of Africa and the African diaspora today.
‘‘From the African diaspora, some of these achievements were forcibly transferred across the Atlantic through the use of the labour, talents and knowledge of enslaved Africans.’’
Have we failed to examine and master the risk factors of attitude to technology innovation? Or is the fear to collaborate and fail but continue the search for innovation the attitude that hinders us to focus and succeed? What is wrong with failure in entrepreneurship since humanity is indeed in her exploration of ignorant revolution?
For example, an annual Booz & Company report (strategy.and.pvc) on the world’s most innovative companies revealed that nine of the top 10 most innovative companies are based in the U.S. and that most of them are involved in computing and digital technology. None of them are based in Europe, however. Another recent survey by The Washington Post revealed that the world’s 15 most valuable Internet companies (based on market capitalizations) have a combined market value of nearly $2.5 trillion. But none of them are European while 11 of them are U.S. firms.
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Again, it is America’s technology innovators that dominate that list. Meanwhile, it is significant to note that, Africa is to state the least invisible in this digital knowledge quest!
Whereas recent trends reveal that there is massive hunt for talents for digital innovation; otherwise known as digital IP harvesting by external forces. Evolution has shown that societies that recognise, embrace, and promote scientific values; allowing them to flourish and influence social norms, related strategic policies; as well as tested governance methodologies succeed than those that neglect the concept.
Indeed, such anti-tech attitudes discourage innovation – especially those driven by the youth of the nation and inflate consumerism. And unless we reverse such attitudes to technophobia, technology innovation and scientific development; sustainable nation building becomes and remains a dream-pipe. People make technology from simple idea refined by research.
Technology does not make man, rather it helps to enable sustainable development and create wealth. Man makes technology through research, leading to innovation and sustained by tech-attitude, assurance, and trustworthiness.