Sustainable Development

In 2

The Mindset of Leaders and Economic Prosperity

InBy the 18th century, iron and coal became examples of industries that were capitalist in peculiar ways.
From inception both industries were capitalist inclined,since they required heavy expenditure for the actual process of production.
The labor force comprised of wage earners working for a master and were not owners of the forge, iron ore or coalmine.
Similarly, as early as the 17th century, a sizable number of comparatively small industries emerged namely,soap,brewing, glass and salt-making industries.

However, during this period the interest in agriculture was still very strong,with the handicraft men more prominent than the industrial or commercial capitalist.

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In the second half of the 18th century, the growth of the population prompting the increase in the demand for goods, improved transportation system, unprecedented mechanical inventions, new materials and improved chemical processes resulted in the industrial revolution.

Industries such as coal and hardware made use of increased quantities of coal, just as coal was also used as fuel.

After the repeal of the General Export Duty in 1834, coal and iron became foremost in the export market.

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Birmingham, Sheffield and Glasgow known for cotton experienced economic growth between 1821 and 1831.

Sadly,in Nigeria today, despite the presence of all the factors that prompted the industrial revolution in Britain and the large deposits of coal,iron ore and several other mineral resources in different parts of the country, Nigeria is still largely import dependent for most of its needs. The poverty rate in Nigeria is now 50 per cent in 2021 as a result of misplaced priorities, mediocrity and incompetence.

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Indeed,the colored race are the major investors in biscuits,sweets,detergents and furniture.

Exploitation of labor, austere wages, poor working conditions and other sharp practices, have all contributed to the survival of these investors.

Interestingly,the distribution of soft drinks produced in plastics, questionable alcoholic drinks in sachets among others are now the choice of business inclined Nigerians.

Those-in-Charge are now tinkering with the idea of vigorously promoting activities in the agricultural sector, despite years of neglect and in the middle of unabating killings(for ritual purposes inclusive), kidnappings and other forms of violence in 2021,while Britain ceased to be primarily agricultural in the second half of the 18th century.

The consensus among focused and development inclined leaders,is that the mindset of those that formulated policies to a great extent determines the economic fortunes and prosperity of countries of the world.

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Targets and Action Plans for food Security

 Successive administrations in Nigeria, the present inclusive, believe that the country has great potentials in agriculture, but the slow pace of agricultural growth, the inability to  generate adequate employment in the sector, in addition to the insignificant socio-economic growth, the high poverty level and the feverish state  of democracy have all contributed to the worrisome state of governance today.

The obvious food insecurity confronting a large chunk of the population living below the poverty line and the embarrassing absence of  participatory democracy among others are militating factors to the ever elusive agricultural growth as promised by the federal and State Governments.

With majority of the poorest of the poor residing in the rural areas, the over 21 years of democracy has confirmed that   it would be nearly impossible, perhaps, to pin point the specific dividends of democracy, when a majority of the population are unemployed and live below the poverty line, when inadequate availability of agro-industrial raw materials impede  industrial growth and when agriculture cannot, for obvious reasons, perform its known functions in the economic development process.

Agriculture, without doubt, has great potentials for achieving a broad-based economy, but its performance remains unimpressive.

If government at all levels have sincere plans to alleviate the present sufferings of the people, then the revival of the Strategic Grains Reserve and reintroduction of Guaranteed Minimum Price System is crucial.

Sadly, the mindset of the youth and their aspirations  have defied all known logic, as same are suggestive of fetish and diabolic initiatives for wealth creation. These initiatives would never promote agricultural development.

Finally, Nigerians find it extremely difficult to  identify specific targets and action plans set by the Federal and State Governments for accomplishment, this is just as farmers across the country are full of lamentations  over the poor state of affairs i the troubled sector.