Literacy and Technological Development in Nigeria: A Philosophical Diagnosis

Abstract

Many challenges have occurred in society as a result of advances in sciences and technology. Some of these changes have been good while others have involved risks that were either not known or are faintly perceived. Science and technology touch the lives of all people in several basic ways on a daily basis, affecting the manner in which people obtain their food, transportation, clothing and housing. As science and technology play in creasing vital roles in the lives of people, it is important and imperative to develop a basic understanding of both faces in this technologically – rich society. The understanding of how technology shapes or is shaped by society is based on two fundamental principles. First, technology is an agent of social change. Technological systems have produced great increases in the speed of communication, made mass production possible, and have reduced dramatically physical labour for human beings. Also, technology has provided an abundance of products and services that requires individuals to make wise consumer decisions. Second, societies influence the source of technological development. This indicates the fact that social, historical and cultural factors determine if and how, a technology is used. More than ever before, the 21st century people are immersed in an environment shaped by human technology. Citizens’ responsibilities in a technological age are defined as the exercise of democratic rights on issues that affect the direction to be taken by society and its technological developments. So, becoming technologically literate means coming to grips with the problems of living in, and exerting influence upon the constructed world. In this work therefore, we will make efforts to locate the place of literacy in technologically driven society. Also attempt will be made to show the correlation between literacy and technological development. To achieve these, our approach will be philosophical, while making Nigeria our focus of reflection.