Student Instructions: A Cry for Help from Africa
You are a student intern in the office of your U.S. Senator, Jake Lawmaker. He has been contacted by many voters of Nigerian descent, several church groups with missionaries in Nigeria, returned Peace Corps workers, officers of businesses who trade with Nigeria, the Special Ambassador to Africa, and the President of the United States. They all want Senator Lawmaker to introduce a bill in Congress to give some aid to Nigeria to improve its level of economic development. This aid can be money, but is not limited to money. The amount of U.S. foreign aid available will be limited.
Since you have just completed a study of Africa with a world-renowned expert as your instructor, the Senator has asked you to prepare background notes for a speech he plans to deliver on the floor of the Senate when he introduces the bill. He wants you to put the following in the background notes. (The Senator provides special sheets for you to complete.)
- Review the history of Nigeria using the "History of Nigeria". On the handout provided list the key event or series of events that you feel has led to the current underdevelopment problems in Nigeria. Give reasons why you think so.
- Construct a list of the economic development problems of Nigeria supported by the data you have.
- Select one problem related to the population characteristics or demographics of Nigeria. Use Table 1, Map 1, Map 2, and Graph 1. Describe the development problem and explain the causes and consequences of the problem. Refer to the data by map, table or graph number so the Senator will know what table or graph to look at when reviewing your notes.
- Select one problem related to the human characteristics of Nigeria. Use Table 2, Map 3, and the History of Nigeria handout. Describe the development problems and explain the causes and consequences of the problem. Refer to the data by map, table or graph number so the Senator will know what table or graph to look at when reviewing your notes.
- Finally, (a) explain which of the previously discussed economic development problems should be solved first given limited resources from the U.S. to help "solve" the problem. You realize that a problem of this type cannot be "solved", but help may improve the situation. For instance, all crime cannot be eliminated, but it can be reduced. Then (b) propose a plausible solution to the problem.