Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chiefs and the Making of Industrial Policy in Nigeria

  • Chapter
Agency and Action in Colonial Africa

  • 65 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter examines the ideas which led to the establishment of the Nigerian colonial government’s policy on industrialization. It argues that the measures approved in 1946 represented a distillation of core ideas and concerns expressed by chiefs, the educated elite and colonial government officials in Nigeria, particularly during the period 1939–46. It contends also that, even though the chiefs and the colonial government were allies in the maintenance of the political status quo, the chiefs’ thinking on industrialization manifested elements of nationalism and radicalism usually associated with the educated elite which was opposed to colonial rule.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. M. Havinden and D. Meredith, Colonialism and Development (London: Routledge, 1993) pp. 168–9.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ibid., p. 171.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ibid., p. 170–4

    Google Scholar 

  6. P. Zachernuk, ‘Nigerian Critics of Empire: Economic Ideas among the Educated Élite, 1935–1945’, paper presented at the Centre for African Studies, Dalhousie University, 26 November 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  7. See A. G. Hopkins, ‘Economic aspects of political movements in Nigeria and the Gold Coast: 1918–1939’, Journal of African History, 7, 1 (1966) 133–52.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zachernuk, ‘Nigerian Critics . . . ’, 6.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ibid., 5–7.

    Google Scholar 

  10. See National Archives Ibadan (N.A.I.) Oyo Province (Oyoprof.) 2/3 c/212 vol. 5: The Conference of Chiefs of the Western Provinces of Nigeria 1942. The chiefs also held a conference in 1940. The author was unable to find details on the proceedings of these conferences.

    Google Scholar 

  11. See for example R. Pearce, ‘The colonial economy: Nigeria and the Second World War’, in B. Ingham and C. Simmons (eds), Development Studies and Colonial Policy (London, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  12. National Archives Kaduna (N.A.K.) Kanprof. 5/1: SNP to the Resident Kano Province, 8 April 1941.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  14. N. A. I. Benin Province 2058: Local Industries and the development of agricultural resources. Extracts from the proceedings of the 5th Conference of Chiefs of the Western Provinces of Nigeria held at Ijebu Ode, 3–5 June 1941.

    Google Scholar 

  15. N. A. I. Oyoprof. 2/3/C/212 vol. 5: Memo by the Oloye of Oye. This was submitted for discussion at the 6th Conference of Chiefs of the Western Provinces held in Benin City in August, 1942. While it is difficult to determine the impact of the proceedings of these conferences on the Nigerian Colonial Government’s policy towards industrial development, available evidence clearly indicates that during the war traditional chiefs were just as concerned as the ‘educated élite’ about future trends in the colonial administration’s industrialization policies.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  18. N. A. I. Oyoprof. 2/3/C/212 vol. 5: Memo by the Oni of Ife on ‘The Establishment of Industrial Companies and the Development of Trade and Industry’. This was presented for discussion at the 6th Conference of Chiefs of the Western Provinces held in Benin City in August, 1942.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  20. N. A. I. Oyoprof. 2/3/C/212 vol. 5: Memo by the Oloja of Okemessi. This was presented at the 6th Conference of Chiefs of the Western Provinces.

    Google Scholar 

  21. J. S. Coleman, Nigeria: Background to Nigerian Nationalism, (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1958) p. 279.

    Google Scholar 

  22. West African Pilot, 17 May 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  23. West African Pilot, ‘PostWar Nigerian Economics’ by Azikiwe, 8 May 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  24. P. T. Bauer, West African Trade (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1969) chapters 15 and 19.

    Google Scholar 

  25. There are number of articles which make reference to socialism and the socialist path to economic development in the West African Pilot after 1943. It is important to point out, as Zachernuk does, that although Nigerian political commentators loosely identified ‘socialism’ with a better life, the term was never clearly defined. James Coleman’s Background to Nigerian Nationalism, pp. 230–67 and G. Olusanya, The Second World War and Politics in Nigeria (London: Evans, 1973) pp. 41–111 claim these ideas were developed amidst the rising tide of social and economic discontent precipitated by wartime shortages, inflation, urban population growth and the influences of returning ex-servicemen.

    Google Scholar 

  26. West African Pilot, 12 June 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  27. West African Pilot, 20 June 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Ibid., 24 June 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Ibid., ‘State Control in Nigeria Must Go’, by an anonymous author, 15 Sept. 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ibid., ‘Public Opinion’ by Irolias, 16 Oct. 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  32. CO 583/288. A Ten Year Plan for the Development and Welfare of Nigeria, Nov. 1944, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  34. CO 852/578/8. ‘Development Corporations in West Africa’, a note (n.d.) by Andrew Cohen.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  39. CO 852/578/8. Commercial and Industrial Development; Marketing. 21 Oct. 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  40. CO 583/288. A Ten Year Plan for the Development and Welfare of Nigeria. Nov. 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  43. West African Pilot, 19 June 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  45. A. Hinds, ‘Colonial Policy and Nigerian Cotton Exports, 1939–1951’, International Journal of African Historical Studies, 29, 1(1996) 31–2.

    Google Scholar 

  46. CO 583/288. A Ten-Year Plan of Development and Welfare for Nigeria, Nov. 1944, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  47. For details see A. Hinds, ‘Colonial Policy and the Processing of Groundnuts: The case of Georges Calil’, International Journal of African Historical Studies, 19, 2 (1986), 261–73. See also A. Hinds, ‘Government Policy and the Nigerian Palm Oil Export Industry, 1939–1949’, Journal of African History, 38, 3(1997), 459–78.

    Google Scholar 

  48. National Archives Kaduna (N.A.K.) SNP 16/8/MLI/6304. Circular Despatch: Acting Chief Secretary to the Government to S.W.P., S.N.P. and S.E.P. ‘Economic Development in Nigeria’, 25 September 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  53. N.A.K. SNP 16/8/MLI/6304: ‘Note on Development of Industries in Nigeria’ prepared by the Department of Commerce and Industries.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Ibid. SNP/16/8/MLI/6304: Minute SNP to Y.H., 1 Oct. 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  59. N.A.K. SNP 16/8/MLI/6304: Note of a discussion held at Government House on Monday, 28 Oct. 1946.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Ibid.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Allister Hinds
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John’s, Canada

    Chris Youé (Professor of History) (Professor of History)

  2. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

    Tim Stapleton (Assistant Professor of History) (Assistant Professor of History)

Copyright information

© 2001 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hinds, A. (2001). Chiefs and the Making of Industrial Policy in Nigeria. In: Youé, C., Stapleton, T. (eds) Agency and Action in Colonial Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230288485_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230288485_9

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-41796-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-230-28848-5

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave History CollectionHistory (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation