THE CULTURE OF CONSUMERISM IN NIGERIA

                   It has been said that, when there is a crack in the wall, it must not be left unsealed as it will eventually lead such wall to ruins.This statement best describes the wrecking effect of unattended "culture of consumerism in Nigeria".The question however is,what is culture in relation to consumerism? And how does the trend affects Nigeria at large . Well,culture is, in the words of E.B Taylor, that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals , law, customs  and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.Sourced from Wikipedia.Culture to my best of understanding, encompasses every facet of human life both the obvious and inconspicuous aspects of it.that is , from the food we eat, to the cloth we wear, to the house we build ,to the language we speak and even to the valuable and in valuable thoughts and actions of our day to day living , just to mention a few. However, culture in these context, reflects a behavioural pattern that serves as a base for certain "economical character".Consumerism on the other hand ,in the domain of economics, refers to economic policies placing emphasis on consumption. In an abstract sense, it is the consideration that the free choice of consumers should strongly orient the choice by manufacturers of what is produced and how, and therefore orient the economic organization of a society. Whereas , consumerism in the sense of this study, refers to a high level of consumption as against production of goods and services. Sourced from Wikipedia
                The culture of consumerism dates back to the "pre colonial era" which ushered in the presence of white business moguls -who needed to sell surplus of goods,that was as a result of the industrial revolution that broke out and shaped the history of western world (specifically western Europe) .Most prominent of the business outfits of this era was Niger company, which later evolved to liver brothers and now uniliver. Interestingly, the white business moguls who came saw a way of expanding their business and domain in Nigeria as against their initial idea of selling their goods came up with the concept of the three "Cs"- Colonisation, Commerce and Christianity. It must be noted that the initial business integration of the whites and the naive was symbiotic-Trade by barter. However, following their success with the concept of the three "Cs" the symbiotic nature of business between the whites and the natives experienced gradual death, owing to the fact that the natives became more dependent on the goods and services of the whites. Surprisingly, the natives (Nigerians) did not only became independent on the whites for goods and services, but assimilated their cultures- a process of  EN-CULTURIZATION. This culture reshaping process bartered the socio-cultural,socio-economic, socio-political and socio-religious practices of the natives as native traditions and philosophies faded.Indeed, the culture of consumerism in Nigeria has its roots grounded in "western influence", which tore through the lands of Africa during the boom of the westerners in INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. However,some questions that strike the mind  based on these discoveries are, what was the true nature of the economy of the natives aside the fact that they trade by barter with the whites? And what were they trading? According to history, the economy of the sub-saharan region of West Africa(Nigeria inclusive) was majorly agrarian in nature, though there were other services, through psychomotor skills that were being rendered. A look into black smiting, tie and dye, pottery, carvings of excellent craftsmanship would better explain this.
               A survey of the various regions of the country and what they did before consumerism conquered Nigeria,  would better explain these facts. The Northern region of the country had phenomenal farmers who engaged themselves in planting of leguminous crops, cereals and a host of other crops.They also thrived in hand skills in the areas of cloth making, pottery, tent and roof making, just to mention a few. On the western side , a strong agrarian economy was also present,as cash crops , food crops etc were being produced coupled with blacksmithing, bead making, tie and dye,pottery and carving-IFE ART is a living testimony to this.This variety of a means to an end gave everyone a place in the society. Most interesting of the region of the country was the Eastern region.This part had people who were basically into trading, such as selling of goods and services. They weren't really producers, though they had agricultural products, being produced by them. The core of economic strength of this region was trading and they made a fortune of it.Judging from these analyses, any logical thinker  would know how well Nigeria has drained down the channels of economic set back as she as done much consumption than production.Nigeria today, not only serves a dumping ground for both fair and inferior goods and services from Europe and Asia and America, she feeds fat the economy of the producers of her goods and services while penury plummets her strengths in all spheres of an ideal twenty first century society.