Meaning and Causes of Economic Underdevelopment in Nigeria PDF
INTRODUCTION
Underdevelopment is a term often used to refer to “Economic Underdevelopment” It is a situation where a country runs an unindustrialized economy with poor capital formation and debased living standards ,meaning underdevelopment takes place when resources are not used to their full “Socio – Economic” Potential, with the result that local or regional development is slower in most cases than the complex interplay of internal and external factors that allow less developed countries only a lop-sided development progression .Just as all hands are not equal, likewise countries of the world in terms of development Some have faced rapid development, while their counterparts still wallow in the painful shells of underdevelopment This is in the sense that while some countries are immensely prosperous, nearly one third of the world’s population live under substandard conditions
Underdeveloped nations are characterized by a wide disparity between their rich and poor populations and an unhealthy balance of trade It is usually held that economic development takes place in a series of “capitalist” stages and that today’s underdeveloped countries are in a stage of history that developed countries passed long ago
A country’s development level can be rated based on how far it has gone as regards providing literacy, housing, Medicare facilities, adequate nutrition, income and productivity, employment, etc, for it’s citizenry. Nigeria however, is one of the countries in Africa that would be grouped as “underdeveloped” This is because since her independence in October 1, 1960, it has been quintessentially hungry amidst plenty resources Nigeria manifests underdevelopment all through her length and breadth A country where oddities walk on their two legs, the result is the vicious circle of poverty, ignorance, diseases, etc
The concept of underdevelopment
Underdevelopment is low level of development characterized by low real per capita income, wide-spread poverty, lower level of literacy, low life expectancy and underutilisation of resources etc. The state in underdeveloped economy fails to provide acceptable levels of living to a large fraction of its population, thus resulting into misery and material deprivations. We need to note here that underdevelopment is a relative concept but it sustains absolute poverty.
CAUSE OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Governance and Leadership Crises
The search for a true and patriotic leader in Africa and Nigeria in particular is a search in motion. A leader visionary enough to place the interest of the nation and the continent above his. A leader with the political will to break the cycle of viciousness and who will, against all odds, dare the devil of backwardness, dependence and reliance and set the country [and the continent] on the path of greatness with a robust economic policy and a sound political ideology.
A governance approach highlights issues of state responsiveness and accountability, and the impact of these factors on political stability and economic development. For too long, social scientists dealing with Africa‟s development have concentrated on economic issues, overlooking the highly important political dimension of the process (Bratton and Rothchild, 1992). To Afegbua & Adejuwon (2012), “governance consequently, is concerned with the uncovering viable regime forms as well as degree of stateness – the capacity to entrench the authority of the central state and to regularize its relations with society”. Concerning leadership in Africa, Ake and Onoge (1995) argue that: Political leadership is parochial rather than national; and corruptly converts national resources into its project of primitive accumulation.
Ethnic diversity is manipulated to stay afloat to the detriment of national cohesion. There is an embarrassing lack of national heroes. The failure was usually explained either by the easy manipulability of the cultural pluralist background, or by the “two publics” antagonism. According to Afegbua & Adejuwon (2012) “political leadership in Africa is parochial rather than national; it corruptly converts national resources into its project of primitive accumulation” Ayittey (2012) submits that corruption epidemic in African countries owes its existence to the long term tenure of their dictators.
Meaning and Causes of Economic Underdevelopment in Nigeria PDF
Examples of past dictators with long tenure include Ethiopia‟s Emperor Haile Selassie (44 years), Gabon‟s Omar Odimba Bongo (42 years), Libya‟s Moammar Gaddafi (42 years), Togo‟s Gnassingbé Eyadéma (37 years), and Egypt‟s Hosni Mubarak (31 years). Similarly, some of the current dictators with tenure spanning more than three decades include Angola‟s José dos Santos, Equatorial Guinea‟s Teodoro Mbasosgo, Zimbabwe‟s Robert Mugabe, and Cameroon‟s Paul Biya. Adeola (2007), concerning leadership in Nigeria says: The history of great nation have been linked to visionary and purposeful leadership, be it in the advanced industrialized countries or developing nations. Such leaders have played significant roles in the socio-economic development and political emancipation of their countries. Closely linked to leadership is ideology. In the absence of visionary leadership to give a clear-cut ideology, a nation continues to lack orientation and commitment.
Consequently, leadership has failed to harness the resources and the ingenuity of the people for national development. Meredith (2006) points out that the first generation of African nationalist leaders also enjoyed great prestige and high honor. These include Ghana‟s Kwame Nkrumah (1957–1966), Egypt‟s Abdel Nasser (1956–1970), Senegal‟s Leopold Senghor (1960–1980), Cote d’Ivoire‟s Houphouet-Boigny (1960–1993), Guinea‟s Sekou Touré (1958–1984), Mali‟s Modibo Keïta (1960–1968), Togo‟s Sylvanus Olympio (1958–1963), Kenya‟s Jomo Kenyatta (1963–1978), Tanzania‟s Julius Nyerere (1961–1985), Zambia‟s Kenneth Kaunda (1964–1991), and Malawi‟s Hastings Banda (1963–1994). He also adds that “In one country after another, African leaders acted in contempt of constitutional rules and agreements they had sworn to uphold to enhance their own power. Constitutions were either amended or rewritten or simply ignored.
Meaning and Causes of Economic Underdevelopment in Nigeria PDF
Corruption
Central to the problems faced in the whole of Africa is corruption and it has taken a central stage in Africa‟s history since independence; even though many argue that corruption in Africa started since colonial rule. However, the scope of this paper focuses on the consciousness [or lack of] of African leaders in perpetuating the furtherance of underdevelopment in Africa; with particular reference to Nigeria.
Corruption has led to and has been caused by bad governance and leadership crisis and all other issues raised under „Afrogation‟. Hence, corruption in Africa since the end of colonial rule is both a cause and an effect of bad governance, poor leadership, military intervention, rent-seeking, authoritarian rule etc. Indeed, the reinvention of underdevelopment in Africa via „Afrogation‟ is mainly to permeate, perpetuate, elongate and institutionalize corruption in Africa. Leadership crisis and more prevalently, electoral violence in Africa is a function of the glorification of corruption.
The demand for corruption by African leaders at all levels has made them regard corruption as a major ingredient of governance; hence, the need to do anything and everything possible to remain in power; if not for anything, at least to absorb corruption and even covers their tracks. Jain (2001) gave a concise definition of corruption as “an act in which the power of public office is used for personal gain in a manner that contravenes the rules of the game”
Ways To Over Come Under- development In Nigeria
For a country to be successful it has to be literate – this is a common unspoken rule. One more reason for Nigeria’s underdevelopment is the high rate of illiteracy in the country, especially in the northern regions. The biggest factors that influence illiteracy in the country are poverty and low living standards. A lot of children have to feed their families and work from a very young age, instead of going to school.
So many young children, especially girls, are forced into marriage and have to quit their education. The parents often fail to realize the importance of education and treat their children as a property that can bring them money. This happens because they are so devoted to the old traditions instead of changing their take on the modern world, or simply because they have no sources of income and need to survive. Leaders in power should make policies to boast and empower the economy of the nation, corruption and looting of money by our leaders should be abolished to forester development in our dear nation
Conclusion
It has been more than five decades since the end of colonial rule, when Nigerians assumed responsibility for the leadership and governance of their country. However, despite the passage of time and the numerous efforts made by successive administrations, Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenge of establishing a clear and sustainable path to national development. Since independence, the country has experienced different political systems, economic policies, development programmes, and leadership approaches intended to improve the living conditions of its citizens. Nevertheless, many of the challenges that existed in the early years of independence remain unresolved, while new ones have emerged. This situation raises important questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s leadership, the quality of its governance, and the commitment of its political institutions to achieving meaningful national progress.
Despite the various trial-and-error approaches adopted by successive governments, Nigeria continues to experience setbacks in its development process and persistent challenges in political governance. These problems can be observed in areas such as inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, corruption, insecurity, poor public service delivery, and unequal access to essential social amenities. Although the country possesses significant human and natural resources, the effective utilisation of these resources has remained a major concern. In many instances, development policies have failed to produce lasting results because of inconsistent implementation, weak institutions, poor accountability, and frequent changes in government priorities. Consequently, the gap between Nigeria’s development potential and its actual achievements continues to generate public dissatisfaction and weaken confidence in the ability of political leaders to deliver sustainable progress.
Before any meaningful solution can be found to Nigeria’s persistent problems, Nigerians must first acknowledge that the country faces serious challenges that require collective attention and responsibility. It is important to move beyond denial and recognise the roles that leadership failures, institutional weaknesses, social attitudes, and citizens’ actions may play in sustaining these difficulties. While colonialism and external influences have contributed to Nigeria’s historical and contemporary circumstances, continually attributing every national problem to external forces can prevent the country from confronting its internal weaknesses. Acknowledging these shortcomings does not mean ignoring historical injustices or the responsibilities of those in positions of authority. Rather, it involves accepting that meaningful change requires honest self-examination, a willingness to learn from past mistakes, and a commitment to correcting the practices and attitudes that hinder national development.
Furthermore, addressing Nigeria’s development challenges requires a change in the orientation, values, and attitudes of both leaders and citizens. Political leaders must demonstrate integrity, accountability, transparency, and a genuine commitment to public service. Public institutions must be strengthened to ensure that laws are enforced fairly, public resources are managed responsibly, and government policies are implemented consistently. Citizens, on their part, must cultivate values that promote national unity, civic responsibility, respect for the rule of law, and active participation in democratic processes. Practices such as bribery, electoral misconduct, ethnic prejudice, misuse of public resources, and the protection of individuals who engage in wrongdoing should not be tolerated simply because they benefit particular groups. Sustainable development becomes more achievable when both leaders and citizens recognise that national progress depends on collective responsibility, responsible conduct, and the willingness to place the public interest above narrow personal or sectional interests.
It is therefore time for Nigeria to examine its problems within its own social, political, economic, and cultural context and develop practical solutions that respond to the country’s specific needs and circumstances. Although lessons can be drawn from the development experiences of other nations, such lessons must be adapted to Nigeria’s realities rather than adopted without careful consideration. Nigerian solutions should be based on credible research, effective planning, public consultation, strong institutions, and a clear understanding of the country’s available resources and developmental priorities. Above all, the country must move beyond the unproductive culture of blame and focus on identifying the causes of its challenges, assigning responsibility where necessary, and implementing measures that produce measurable results. Unless Nigerians recognise the need for honest self-assessment and sustained collective action, the country risks remaining trapped in a cycle of repeated mistakes and unrealised potential. Genuine national development requires a deliberate departure from denial and blame towards responsibility, institutional reform, and a shared commitment to building a more stable, prosperous, and inclusive society.
References
Abubakar, D. (2001). “Ethnic Identity, Democratization, and the Future of the African State: Lessons from Nigeria”. Ethnicity and Recent Democratic Experiments in Africa, African Issues, 29(1/2):31-36
Adeola, G.L (2007). “Politics and Democratization Process in Nigeria: The Prevailing Issues”, LASU Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1&2).
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