If you are looking for evidence of how unserious Nigerians are as a people, look no further than the global pram market to realise how intellectually lazy we are

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Thinking about Nigeria everyday can be very exasperating. Our lack of productivity, intellectual laziness and refusal to adhere to global standards in all we do is at the heart of our problems. We are surrounded with all sorts opportunities but just refuse to take advantage of it. If na Owambe or religion now, we go sabi

[2] One poignant example of this our refusal to be productive is the global pram market, which we should easily dominate as we have one of the fastest growing populations in the world. Nigeria’s current population stood at 225,585,560 as of Wednesday, November 1, 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. This is equivalent to 2.78% of the total world population

[3] Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 400m by 2050, virtually doubling the current estimate. This will make the country the third most populous nation in the world behind China and India. Babies need prams, so why is Nigeria not looking to tap into this potentially lucrative market?

[4] Now, the world's population is expected to increase by nearly 2bn persons in the next 30 years, from the current 8bn to 9.7bn in 2050 and could peak at nearly 10.4bn in the mid-2080s. What is stopping Nigeria from aspiring to become the planet’s number one pram supplier?

[5] Today, in 2023, the global baby pram and stroller market is worth $4.95bn and this is expected to rise to $8.79bn by 2033

[6] Do you know that the first pram appeared in Landau, Germany, just after World War One. This four-wheeled carriage featured two facing seats placed parallel to the axles and also included a hood that could be replaced by a sunshade in hot weather

[7] Over time, other accessories that became available with prams included mosquito nets, an adjustable umbrella stand, a spare wheel, etc. Innovations will always continue. What stops us manufacturing a pram with air conditioning for instance?

[8] Today's prams are highly modernised and meet the needs of an active society. Most are equipped with small bicycle-type wheels and are aerodynamic. Nigeria should be churning these contractions out in their millions

[9] Just imagine how we would corner the global market if we were highly innovative with our designs. For instance, a three-wheeled version shaped pram like a needle-nosed race car is popular with joggers, while a small carriage-type unit can be attached to a bicycle, allowing cyclists to spend time with the kids and exercise at the same time

[10] All that is needed here is for one state governor to offer a global manufacturer a 99 year land lease and a five year tax holiday. Ask them to come and open a massive plant in his state, employing about 2,000 factory workers with a view dominating the global market