Industrialisation as tokenism

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Book chapter

Title:	Industrialisation as tokenism
Author:	Lawal, A.A.
Book title:	Britain and Nigeria: exploitation or development?
Year:	1987
Pages:	114-123
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Nigeria United Kingdom
Subjects:	colonialism industrial policy
Abstract:	The British colonial attitude to industrialization in Nigeria was that it would defeat the principal objectives of colonialism and imperialism and it was better to preserve the country as a large market for the progress of trade. Various policies were introduced not only to suppress local industries but to encourage increased consumption of British manufactures. In their reaction to the clarion call for industrialization the colonial masters recommended the establishment of 'token' industries for the production of semi-manufactures and some consumer goods. By 1960, Nigeria was not yet an industrial society. Its manufactures, which failed to satisfy local demand, were not exported either. About 75 percent of the population were still engaged in agriculture, which accounted for about 50 percent of the total national product. The evidence shows that, in the colonial context, all the features of modern and ideal industrialization were lacking. Ref.