France and the Intersection and Challenges of Science, Technology and Innovation in Africa after the Second World War: The Panacea to Future Armed Conflicts

Abstract

Africa has often been regarded as a recipient of science, technology and innovation rather than a maker of them. Many of the scientific and technological advances introduced by France after the Second World War have been transported to former French colonies in Africa. The paper treats the intersection of science and technology in Africa engineered by France and looks at the conflicts and challenges posed by these great initiatives. It further argues that, although many scientific innovations and technologies came to the former French colonies with the process of French colonization, it was only after the Second World War that Africans in former French colonies experienced the full potential of new weapons, engineering innovations, transformation of raw materials, as well as transportation methods. To encourage the intersection of science and technology in Africa, the French government has empowered African institutions and trained scientists, engineers, physicians, architects, planners, and other technical professionals in Africa and France. In addition to the challenges faced by France, the most serious challenges to the development of science and technology aspirations in Africa had been poor and unsteady funding to scientists, brain drain of engineers, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient levels of literacy and a shortage of skills and competencies, and above all post-independence interstate and state wars. Using essentially the qualitative approach and consulting both primary and secondary sources, the study concludes with evidences from the case studies that, France has contributed immensely to the development of science and technology in her former African colonies.