Growing up as Kids in Plateau State Jos, I and my group friends were always top of the pile in terms of sports, explorations, innovation and fun games.
As young Children living in the same neighborhood, we formed a click of friends who did virtually everything we could as kids together.
From Hide and Seek games, to Street Soccer ⚽ to Fishing, to Mountain Climbing, everything was done as a group of friends.
One particular day in July 2004, a sad event occurred that gave me a terrible experience I would never forget in a hurry.
On one Fateful Afternoon, I and my older were sent out to mill some soaked beans at the Grinding Mill which will be used to prepare Bean Cake (my favorite dish)
Accompanied by my best friend Okechukwu, we hit the road for the Grinding Mill.
After all preparations were made alongsides machine checks completed, the Mill operator switched on the grinding Mill and started Milling the soaked Beans.
Standing besides the machine and looking Curiously was Me, My Older Brother and My Best Friend Okechukwu.
While the Milling operation was ongoing, to my greatest surprise, my Best Friend Okechukwu, surprisingly out of curiosity, put out his hand forward and grabbed the Mill grinding Belt.
Immediately we heard a Loud shout! My Hand!! My Hand!!!
Looking down on the ground, was Okechukwu’s Five Fingers which got cut off down on the ground wrigling in snake like fashion, with his hand furiously pumping out Blood.
OMG! We were shocked 😲 😲 😲
All of This happened in a split second.
Immediately, the Mill operator switched off the machine, picked Okechukwu up and started running towards the nearest shop while I and my brother followed behind in hot pursuit.
On getting to the shop, while shouting help! help!! help!!! the Mill operator hurriedly requested for a roll of tissue paper to cover his hand and stop the bleeding.
Immediately, the entire tissue paper roll got soaked with Blood yielding little to no result.
By this time, a crowd of people gathered with onlookers demanding to know what had happened.
Noticing that the Bleeding was only getting worse, A bystander quickly offered his vehicle to lift the victim and rush to the hospital.
On getting to the hospital, Okechukwu’s hand was treated and well bandaged while his five chopped fingers were retrieved by his family members and Subsequently buried beneath the ground in front of their house.
This sad event occurred when my Best friend and I were just at the age of 8.
Recovering and Growing up for my Best Friend Okechukwu without Five Fingers on his right hand was very difficult.
This sad event forced him to learn how to write using his left hand while depriving him of many things due to his newly Technology impeded disadvantage.
Fast forward today, Okechukwu’s Five Fingers regrew a little bit but they never became wholly complete.
The deformity is one he will live with forever.
Looking back on This event makes me wonder if:
1. Every kind of Technology is meant for Africa
2. What is the impact of Technology on Africa as a continent greatly Lacking in proper Technical Knowledge
3. What are the Safety Concerns associated with the application of Foreign Technologies applied without proper Technical Knowledge, and Health, Safety Measures.
4. Will Africa be better off if the African Continent develops and deploys it’s own Local Technologies for daily African use
5. Are there any health disasters quietly rising up from the use of Machines for the production of food for African consumption?
6. Are there any Silent Issues growing with Mass Technolization in Africa?
Over the Course of the Week, We shall be delving Critically into each of this topics in the form of individual Topic Publications on SeedufyTech
Today, Lets Start with the first.
1. Is Every kind of Technology Created for Africa?
Today, Technology is evolving at a very fast pace with global economies witnessing rapid Manufacturing of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Drones, Electric Vehicle’s, Construction Machines, Manufacturing Machines, Agricultural and Mining Machines.
Africa itself as a continent, is filled with Largely under educated with people, with Millions of Africans living in rural and uneducated neighborhoods. Africa has a very low Human to Machine relationary index and This poses a very huge challenge to African Technology development, as human to Machine interaction is very vital for sustainable African Technology development, and Africa falls far far behind in this regard.
A good example of how Poor African human to Machine interaction Leading to disaster can be seen in case of another good friend of mine. A very talented young boy and dancer Ephraim as far back as 2010 who lost his life in a road accident while carrying out Motorcycle stunts without putting on protective uniforms and safety equipments.
This makes me wonder: will my Best friend Okechukwu still have had his five fingers intact if a Mill Grinding Machine was not invented? 🤔Will my friend Ephraim be here today if a Motorcycle Machine was not invented? 🤔
These Questions are very important and these questions should guide African Technological Product and Infrastructure Development.
What about the safety designs of the both Machines. Could they have been designed and more built to suit the average African human knowledge and behavioral characteristics?
Today in Africa, The continent has a knack for misusing Machines and Foreign Technologies. This ill behavior can be seen in Commercial Motorcycle use in Africa. These Motorcycles commonly referred to as “Okada” in Nigeria, are abused and Misused on a daily basis.
For example in Nigeria and many parts of Africa, Motorcycles designed and built to carry One Rider and One Passenger totalling 2 persons, is being used to carry up to four and some times even five persons while transversing on bad and deteriorated roads.
The goal is to Maximize costs but unfortunately these illicit acts have resulted in Thousands of Motorcycle road Accidents, thorn muscles, broken bones and Deaths.
Africa’s knack for Lawlessness and lack of adequate safety enforcement legislations, makes the African continent vulnerable to Technology aided human disasters which comes with excruciating pains, broken skulls and many Death’s.
The need for Proper Knowledge in Technology Use
The word Technology comes from the Ancient Greek words “Tekhne” (meaning art, craft, or skill) and “Logia” (meaning a study or-logy). Combined as tekhnologia, it originally meant a systematic treatment or description of an art or craft. Over centuries, its meaning shifted from a discourse on grammar and practical arts to the application of science for industrial and practical ends.
According to Merriam Dictionary, Technology means using science and knowledge to make tools, machines, and systems that solve problems and help people do things easier. It includes physical items like phones and computers, as well as rules and processes used in work and daily life.
Having proper human Technology knowledge is Vital for Successfully deploying Technology for mass human manufacturing and basic daily needs in Africa. This comes as human Technology knowledge capacity index is very necessary for securing Sustainable Machine Productivity, Safe Working Environments and Improved Output.
Africa lacks greatly in this aspect. Today in Africa, Over 90% of Nigerian and African Commercial Motorcycle riders, have received no proper certified training on Motorcycle Machine riding or maintenance. This is one of the reasons why Motorcycle Accidents is on the increase in Nigeria today.
Without Strong Technology Use Legislations that enforces proper training, Certification and Safety Compliances, Technology might just end up as the tool for mass destruction and Millions of untimely Deaths in Africa.
Keep up with SeedufyTech tomorrow as we discuss The impact of Technology on Africa as a continent greatly Lacking in proper Technical Knowledge. 🌍
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