ABSTRACT

Existing narrative on globalization has mostly been
couched in positive light; and even when some negativity is explained, it
exposes little, and thereby leaves much to be desired. Considering the
phenomenon as a serious event that impacts on several facets of the state, one
realizes that extant literature are yet to fully capture the impact that
the  phenomenon has had on Nigeria.

This study, though not meant to contend perspectives, is
conducted in order to excoriate the façade often put forward in order to shroud
the negative dimension of the impacts of globalization on and/or in Third World
countries, particularly Nigeria. In this vein, the study adopts Dependency and
Neo-Marxist orientations in order to explain how globalization has impacted the
Nigerian society. Following on this, both primary and secondary sources of data
were explored while gathering the necessary data used in the process of writing
this study.

Flowing from the foregoing, the study, while agreeing with
the existing narratives on the positive impacts that globalization might have
had on Nigeria, it finds out that the phenomenon has not only deepened the
dimension of poverty and underdevelopment in the country, but has brought to
bear dangerous type of asymmetry in Nigeria‟s relations with the major powers
within the international system.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0
INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Although the word globalization was not
coined until the second half of the twentieth century, the origin of
globalization has been traced back to the period between 1450-1500 A.D. A
period referred to as the mercantilist period and characterized by the
development of trade in the quest for commercial empires to broaden their
markets (Amiuwu, 2004, Scholte, 2002).

 Cited in (Ugbam, etal, 2014) since then,
propelled by incredible advancements in transportation and information
technology, globalization has practically shrunk the world to one global
village. Initially, globalization was seen as an economic phenomenon and in
fact, some economists still define it from a purely economic perspective.
However, it is now obvious that although it was triggered by economic motives
it has far reaching effects in all aspects of life especially in the areas of
politics, culture, technology and the environment. 

Globalization is a complex and
multifaceted phenomenon. It is the process of international integration as a
product of exchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of
culture in which worldwide exchange of national and cultural resources occurs
in the process. Many factors contributed to the growth of globalization, the
major being advancement in transportation and communication. The current wave
of globalization is nothing but the result of Schumpeterian evolution in
technology along with interaction of many actors at different levels of the
economy. 

Globalization means different things to
different people. For some it creates positive political, economic and
technological progress. For a few, globalization has changed situations in such
a manner that power of state is determined by power of firm. If the goal of
globalization was more liberal exchange of goods, services, labor, thoughts etc
which in later stages would make world uniform, then there would be no space
for identity. Globalization is not a debate about divergence or convergence,
but it is a dialectical process which can both integrate and fragment along
with creating both winners and losers. Today what we see is the downside of
globalization. 

Globalization effects are not optional
for developing countries especially Nigeria, but as compelling and imperative.
Developing countries are pulled into global political, economic and social
relationship without their consent. Coincidentally, for the mere fact that
global wealth is unevenly distributed, globalization today is often seen as a
refined version of capital imperialism.

As according to Ojo (2004), rather than
fostering a sense of common interest in the global village, neo-liberal
economic practices are bringing the world back to the Darwinian jungle of the
survival of the fittest in which everything exists in perpetual state of  fierce competition in pursuit of self
interest.

Globalization trend has also had an
adverse effect on the socio-cultural development of Nigeria. The social aspect
is that globalization has deeply influenced the social structure of different
societies. Every society used to have its own unique culture with respect to
the language, social norms, morality, civic sense etc. With the advent of media
which aids this special capability to influence millions at the same time has
challenged the social institutions of the society mainly family.

A particular society following their
style of living without being much influenced by the western culture is now
seen as „uncivilized‟ which was a very cunningly designed propagandaof the west
to inculcate their culture into the rest of the world and thereby dominating the
globe.

“Culture links us to our historical past. It spells a
particular way of people‟s behavior, ways of acting and thinking. Culture also
defines the value system, customs, education and knowledge of a people. 

Culture is the vehicle through which knowledge, beliefs,
arts, morals, laws, customs and any other capabilities and habits are
transmitted to members of a community from generation to generation”(Bello,
2001). 

Accordingly, culture consists of values and rules we live
by, our ideas of good and evil, our language and our religion. However, for
Nigeria this great phenomenon (socio-cultural), that gives people identity,
personality and individuality has beenobscured by globalization. The
hegemonization of culture by the Western world or rather America, is an overt
attempt to leave us here in Nigeria without identity, individuality and
personality. The overall effect on us is that we become mindless atoms in the
material world. “We become a people without any historical past.

Maduagwu (2003) lamented the corrosive effect on our
cultures as he observed that since our experiences with colonialism,African
countries, Nigeria have been unable to independently articulate or chart their
history, culture and identity.  

The cumulative effect therefore is that our “culture is
largely influenced by the perception and worldview cultivated as a result of
slavery as well as our colonial and post-colonial education and finally by the
current trend in economic globalization; consequently we undervalue the
potential contributions that our cultural heritage can make to our contemporary
developmental efforts (Bello, 2001). It is against this background that this
work was conceived with the major aim of critically assessing the impact of
globalization on socio-cultural development in Nigeria.

Globalization is rooted in multinational
trading and investments arrangements and the opening up of trade, through
liberalization of the financial sector as well as the economy as a whole. The
reasoning behind this policy thrust is that the promotion of trade enriches the
wealth of nations. For instance, trade liberalization under the Uruguay round
of multilateral trade agreement of 1995 was estimated to have provided over
100billion U.S dollars a year in net benefits accruing mainly to those
countries that have removed trade barriers (Hausters&Gerd,

2000).

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Globalization free-trade has impacted the
African continent immensely, particularly by engendering the ongoing economic
growth in some regions of the continent. Nigeria, which is seriously festooned
with both human and natural resources, which if adequately harnessed, can turn
around not only its economy but the entire economy of Africa. Regrettably, this
has not been possible because Nigeria has allowed herself to be used as a
dumping ground for all sorts of imported goods from the foreign industrial
countries and also Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan (mostly
regarded has the Asian tigers). Consequently, this has had an unpleasant impact
depending on the lens from which it is viewed on capacity utilization of
various sub-sectors of the Nigerian manufacturing sector, the creation of
employment opportunities, the rate of social vices in the society and the severe
hemorrhage of funds from the country‟s coffers by political elites,
bureaucrats, military elites and the numerous multinational companies who make
their forays within the country.

Indeed the impact of globalization on
Nigeria and its contributions to the country‟s economy, creation of job
opportunities and the level of economic growth through the infusion of foreign
capital and advanced technology is inevitable (Aina, 1996; Abubakar, 2001;
Jubril, 2001; NCEMA, 2002; Aluko, Akinola and Fatokun, 2004; Sagagi, 2004) and
as such, cannot be overemphasized. However, in the face of serious negative
fallouts that the phenomenon

Globalization is bringing to bear on the continent, an
instance of which is the restriction of 
African units, majorly to the status of 
producers of raw materials and consumer of manufactured goods, and the
consequent restriction of African countries in really defining their priorities
of national growth; one wonders about the continuous celebration of the
phenomenon as bringing salubrious situations to bear on the continent;
particularly on Nigeria which happens to be the largest economy in the
continent. Given this foregoing, this study, while not grappling issues with
extant views, seeks to demonstrate how globalization impacts, both positively
and otherwise, on Nigeria‟s development and economy.

Though the explanation of the positive
aspect would probably reflect some of the existing claims; the study however
goes further to nuance the untoward fallouts of globalization for both the
development and economy of Nigeria. This becomes important since the country,
since it has linked to the global market, does not seem to have made any
appreciable progress in its economic and developmental agenda.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The In the light of the above,
therefore, the broad objective of the study is to investigate the nexus between
globalization and developmental and economical concerns in Nigeria.

(1)   The
specific objectives of this study are to: properly nuance globalization in the
Nigerian context;

(2)   identify
how globalization has impacted the Nigerian state;

(3)   analyze
the implications of such impacts, both the positive and the negative fallouts,
for the bifurcated developmental and economic agenda of Nigeria; and to 

(4)   Examine
how Nigeria‟s federal government has been responding to the bourgeoning
implications of the phenomenon on the country.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

(1)   How
has globalization assisted the development of African economies

(2)   In
your opinion, what are the tangible fallouts of globalization in Nigeria

(3)   How
adequate has Nigeria been handling the monumental impacts of the tools of the
phenomenon?

(4)   Is
Nigeria capable of averting its being further sucked into the vortex of
globalization?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This work will be relevant to the policy makers,
government, researchers, and the society in general. For policy makers and
government, it will help in identifying the good policies that can be adopted
in order to ensure that Nigeria‟s economy is made better.

For the society at large, the relevance of this study will
be projected with the selection of good policies from the government and this
will further improve the standard of living of Nigerians. Therefore, this
research will also benefit the society and government at large; the result of
the findings of this study will enhance the understanding of Nigeria‟s economic
situation when analyses of development efforts are being appreciated.

The research will also benefit other researches who may
want to have more understanding or carry out further research in the area of
globalization.

1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY

 Due to the nature of the research, the time
frame that will be covered by the research is

2006 to 2014.

1.7 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY

The research study is divided into five
chapters. By way of introduction, the first chapter presents a detailed
background to the study. The second chapter focuses on theoretical jacket of
the study; and this consists of the review of literature and the theoretical
framework of study; while the third chapter concerns itself with the
methodology adopted in the course of the research. Chapter four presents the
reader with a detailed analysis of information gathered in the process and
field of research; and the last chapter entails the summary of findings,
conclusion and recommendations.

1.8
DEFINITION OF TERMS

GLOBALISATION 

 Francis (2001) describes globalization as the
great economic event of our era. It is also because; it is now bringing
unprecedented opportunities to billions of people throughout the world. The
rapid growth of information technology and the increased global integration of
trade and capital which have had profound consequence for the world economy are
resulting into significant shift in the world economy. This is because,
increasingly, major decisions around the world are given by global competitive
pressure.

Based on this, I define globalization has
a major outbreak from underdevelopment. This has helped with technological
knowhow therefore making the world a less complex society.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In a view expressed by Okobiah (1984),
development involves a process of economic, political and social change in a
progress direction towards a better social well-being for the member of the
society.

Economic development in my perspective to
this means a stage of change channeled towards progress in the society has a
whole.

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS (MNCs)

Kaarbo (2011) defines Multinational
Corporations as large companies doing business globally. These organizations
may have plants or factories in more than one state, pay taxes in more than one
state, pay taxes in more than one state, or have investments in more than one
state. McDonald‟s, Colgate-Palmolive, General Foods, and General Motors are
MNCs.

 I
will define Multinational Corporations as any company that is registered and operates
in more than one country. This company has its headquarters in one country and
operates from there. The branches in other countries report to this
headquarter, example of MNCs are; Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.