The current global debate on alternative energy sources, consumption and conservation has continued to generate intellectual and academic concern.  In Nigeria, due to erratic water and epileptic electricity supplies there are a slow pace of development as it affects urban economies and life generally. Electricity and water constitute the basic needs of life and are highly essential for a successful living as well as viable productivity. For instance, without water, life could hardly exist, and without electricity the mobility, creativity of life will be grossly undermined. Both electricity and water are crucial, not only for urbanization processes but for life itself. The fundamental underpinnings that touched on the cruciality of these two key urban amenities have to do with the fact that both electricity and water directly affect human life. This explains why the British embarked on programmes aimed at providing portable water and electricity supplies in northern Nigerian cities. During the colonial period, administrative headquarters, commercial centre’s and railway terminus were all provided with either major electricity and water schemes or partial supplies. The study further revealed that electricity and water supply transformed the colonial urban space and created new social and economic order.

Speaker: Dr. Philip Akpen, Department of History and Diplomatic Studies,  University of Abuja, Commonwealth Visiting Research Fellow, SOAS University of London

Chair: Dr John Parker (SOAS)

For more information and to RSVP contact cas@soas.ac.uk