Dependence on the West has revealed itself in different ways. Typically, it comes in the form of seeking Western understanding of our way of life and demanding that we are represented accurately in the media for instance. While it’s an interesting ask, there’s a need for us to take back the narrative and tell our own stories and do our things without seeking anyone’s approval. That’s exactly what’s happening at University of Nsukka as they launch a laptop assembly center to begin to wean us off our Macbooks and HP laptops and as Ben Murray Bruce would say Buy Naija to grow the Naira.
The center was launched on October 6, 2017, by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammmad Sa’ad Abubakar III. CFR. While speaking shortly after the commissioning, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, revealed that the goal of the project known as Lion Laptops, is to make laptops affordable especially for training and research purposes.
It was also revealed that engineering students in the university will supplement their skills through the plant. While it’s a step forward, there is still a lot to be done and it may be naive to believe that any real strides shall come with individuals assembling laptops as opposed to machines.