Thursday, July 10, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Biofuel Potential in Nigeria
Biofuels
Ethanol is the poster reagent of Biofuels. At present, ethanol is produced mainly from maize, cassava, wheat. These raw materials have high energy densities, are readily available and are currently under much groundbreaking research.
One catch however is that the raw materials are also essential food crops in insane demand the world over. For example, cassava is extremely available in west Africa but recently when the Nigerian government tried to export some cassava for Biofuel production, prices of various cassava-based staples skyrocketed!
I propose that instead of focusing on high-demand food crops for Biofuels, we should begin to look at presently unwanted sources. Waste cooking oils, weeds, non-food crops, etc should be tested and maybe, just maybe, these may be viable solutions.
Using weeds and (waste cooking) oils to produce Biofuels in the short and long run introduces a phenomenon that every forward-thinking and sustainable community must have, Recycling. This further branches our economy and creates a new sub-industry, jobs and helps eradicate poverty. Also, we always need to be innovating, discovering new ideas and economic pathways. Crops which are not presently essential foods can be researched and, if favourable, used to create Biofuels. This will create jobs and may even lead to exports of both raw or/and refined materials. I would prefer we export the technology, expertise or finished products, not raw materials and thus avoid a case much like what we suffer via Crude Oil.
We are too reliant on Oil in Nigeria, this is yet another way we can diversify the economy via job-creation for all 'strata'.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Nigeria's Rice Conundrum
Nigerians are a very proud and opinionated people. I legitimately think it's part of our culture. Why? Culture is 'the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group'-from Google.
Last Sunday, at evening mass, I realised that the choir mistress sang a very famous hymn (I forget the title) differently from how I knew the hymn. And the first thought in my unconscious was: "She's got it wrong"; with an air of annoyance. 2 micro seconds later I scolded myself saying: "It ain't wrong just because it's
different". That little scenario got me thinking: "This is a problem with humans".
One of the first steps in development is changing the way something is done. Nigeria, as are most Sub-Saharan countries, is developing but in some sectors still doing the same thing. *Hint Hint:mono economy. One glaring example was pointed out by Dr Ngida- a Prof at McGill, at a recent NSA Concordia talk: Nigeria, the "Giant of Africa" is dependent on imports for rice and energy. The energy problem is not new to most- We export Crude and import Petrol, etc; but the rice conundrum isn't under discussion in Nigerian spheres.
First of all, rice can be produced in Nigeria but this industry is overlooked and thus expensive and mediocre. Also, there seems to be a misconception among uninformed Nigerians that imported rice is more nutritious (same issue with imported fish). I do not know of any research to confirm this so I can't say more than I disagree. Such research if to be done, should be conducted by the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture.This over-dependence on imported rice has political ramifications. Our government could be cornered into making unreasonable pledges if our rice-supply lines are threatened. The Nigerian economy is also affected because spikes in prices of staples (rice, cassava, fuel) halt the nation, especially the working-class.
As taught in a recent MOOC I took via FutureLearn ("Sustainability, Society and You" by The University of Nottingham), a sustainable change incorporates among others, change in social attitudes. Nigeria needs to:
- aid and develop the rice industry. This will reduce imports, create jobs, encourage innovation. Subsidies can be given to encourage a collective movement to local rice.
- introduce locally available alternatives. Rice and Swallows (garri, pounded yam, looloo, fufu, onunu (Opopo), etc...) are the main meals in most of Nigeria. Aiding and abetting different grains like couscous; outlining the possibly more nutritious alternatives; will reduce the country's rice needs altogether, further reducing intercontinental dependency.
- import African rice. Pan-Africanism is the only way Sub-Saharan Africa can develop together exponentially. If another African country can produce astronomical amounts of rice at significantly lower costs; I suggest Nigeria team up with the country in research, farming and trade.
The thoughts above have called on 'Nigeria' to act but the significant changes we need cannot be carried out by governments, in my view, but by individuals. As I and many maintain: Nigeria, Africa is a hotbed of financial opportunity. Come with a vision and enjoy the gains!!
Last Sunday, at evening mass, I realised that the choir mistress sang a very famous hymn (I forget the title) differently from how I knew the hymn. And the first thought in my unconscious was: "She's got it wrong"; with an air of annoyance. 2 micro seconds later I scolded myself saying: "It ain't wrong just because it's
different". That little scenario got me thinking: "This is a problem with humans".
One of the first steps in development is changing the way something is done. Nigeria, as are most Sub-Saharan countries, is developing but in some sectors still doing the same thing. *Hint Hint:mono economy. One glaring example was pointed out by Dr Ngida- a Prof at McGill, at a recent NSA Concordia talk: Nigeria, the "Giant of Africa" is dependent on imports for rice and energy. The energy problem is not new to most- We export Crude and import Petrol, etc; but the rice conundrum isn't under discussion in Nigerian spheres.
First of all, rice can be produced in Nigeria but this industry is overlooked and thus expensive and mediocre. Also, there seems to be a misconception among uninformed Nigerians that imported rice is more nutritious (same issue with imported fish). I do not know of any research to confirm this so I can't say more than I disagree. Such research if to be done, should be conducted by the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture.This over-dependence on imported rice has political ramifications. Our government could be cornered into making unreasonable pledges if our rice-supply lines are threatened. The Nigerian economy is also affected because spikes in prices of staples (rice, cassava, fuel) halt the nation, especially the working-class.
As taught in a recent MOOC I took via FutureLearn ("Sustainability, Society and You" by The University of Nottingham), a sustainable change incorporates among others, change in social attitudes. Nigeria needs to:
- aid and develop the rice industry. This will reduce imports, create jobs, encourage innovation. Subsidies can be given to encourage a collective movement to local rice.
- introduce locally available alternatives. Rice and Swallows (garri, pounded yam, looloo, fufu, onunu (Opopo), etc...) are the main meals in most of Nigeria. Aiding and abetting different grains like couscous; outlining the possibly more nutritious alternatives; will reduce the country's rice needs altogether, further reducing intercontinental dependency.
- import African rice. Pan-Africanism is the only way Sub-Saharan Africa can develop together exponentially. If another African country can produce astronomical amounts of rice at significantly lower costs; I suggest Nigeria team up with the country in research, farming and trade.
The thoughts above have called on 'Nigeria' to act but the significant changes we need cannot be carried out by governments, in my view, but by individuals. As I and many maintain: Nigeria, Africa is a hotbed of financial opportunity. Come with a vision and enjoy the gains!!
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