MOOC final project on the proposed solution to the issues associated with the changing nature of work. Over the last century, technology has created more jobs than it has displaced. This column presents an overview of ways in which technology and innovation are changing the nature of work, leading to demand advanced cognitive skills and greater adaptability among workers. The rise of platform marketplaces is also changing the way people work and the terms on which they work, which requires a rethinking of social protection systems.

1. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE CHANGING NATURE OF WORK IN NIGERIA
FINAL PROJECT

2. Slide Outline
• Introduction
• The Changing Nature of Work
• World Bank’s World Development Report on the Changing Nature
of Work
• The Rise of Technology Startups in Nigeria
• Responding to the Changing Nature of Work
• Potential Implications of the Changing Nature of Work
• Understanding Impact of AI on Labor
• The Problems Associated with the Changing Nature of Work in
Nigeria
• How Nigeria Must Prepare for the Changing Nature of Work
• Recommendation
• Conclusion

3. Over the last century, machines have replaced
workers in many tasks. On balance, however,
technology has created more jobs than it has
displaced. Technological progress has
transformed living standards. Life expectancy
has gone up; basic health care and education
are widespread, and most people have seen
their incomes rise. And yet, fears of robot-
induced unemployment often dominate
discussions over the future of work.
Introduction

4. Technological progress enables firms to
automate, replacing labor with machines in
production, and to innovate, expanding the
number of sectors, tasks, and products. The
pace of innovation will determine whether
new jobs or tasks emerge to counterbalance
the decline of old, routine-based jobs.
The Changing Nature of Work

5. According to World Bank’s World Development
Report for 2019 addresses these issues,
analyzing what exactly is changing and what
needs to be done. The report argues that, on
balance, concerns about robot-induced
unemployment appear to be unfounded.
Instead, the future of work is driven by the
competing forces of automation and
innovation, the other Artificial Intelligence.
Source: World Bank WDR 2019
World Bank’s World Development Report on the
Changing Nature of Work

6. The report casts its net wider than an attempt
to predict the number of jobs that technology
may create or destroy, focusing instead on the
changing nature of the firm, its impact on skills
and the terms on which people work, and how
government policy should be reoriented in
response.
World Bank’s World Development Report on the
Changing Nature of Work Cont’d

7. Technology has helped in shaping the way things are done. It has
brought innovations and inventions into service delivery. The world
has gradually shifted to a technology driven age with everything fully
computerized. Despite the remarkable pace technology is improving
man's daily activities; Africa has not fully measured up in the
equation.
However, in Nigeria, technology startups are developing technology
software solutions which companies and organizations are leveraging
on to improve service delivery, and address societal challenges. On a
large scale, these efforts are geared towards closing the technological
divide between Africa and Europe. According to experts, the growth
potential for technology in the continent is huge, judging from the
remarkable breakthroughs these startups are making in addressing
workplace issues and getting many youths actively engaged.
The Rise of Technology Startups in Nigeria

8. In Nigeria, the technology revolution is growing at a
progressive pace, especially with the rise of
technology hub centers such as the Co-Creation Hub
(CCC) Yaba, (Lagos), Enspire hub, and blub hub
(Kano), Stonebrick hub (Abuja) and others. These
technology hub centres assist young startups with
internet access and free training.
According to a report by social media week,
regardless of the growth of internet usage in Africa
since the year 2000, just a segment of the population
about 7 percent have access to the internet. Even
with the increase in access to technology globally,
the divide in knowledge and skill limits the ability of
developing countries to compete in the global
market.
Digital divide is the gap in the access to information and
communication technologies between developed and
developing countries or among different social groups. The
divide is not limited to internet access but also to mobile
phones, computers, radio and television. Access to information
and computer technology is crucial to sustainable economic
and social development as well as environmental protection.
According to Forbes report, technology start-ups in Africa
raised $129 million in funding in 2016, which found a 16.8
percent increase in the number of successfully funded start-
ups over 2015.
The report which referred to another report by Disrupt Africa
Tech startup noted that South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya
remained the three most popular investment destinations on
the continent, accounting for 80.3 percent of funds realized.
However, Egypt experienced over 100 percent growth in
fundraising, making it the fourth ranked destination.
The Rise of Technology Startups in Nigeria (Cont’d)

9. Responding to Change in the Nature of
Work

10. Strategies have to be developed to address the
following areas;
1. Access to education and training
• Improve Capacity to Learned
• Investing in Re-skilling and Education of Workers
• Teach/Digital Literacy Program
• Digital Innovative Hub
2. Fiscal strategies for new forms of work
• Social Protection
• Labor Market Policies
3. Economics of the digital revolution.
• Automation and robotization
• Anticipation of the effects of AI & robotisation for social transition
• AI will change workplaces
Potential Implications of the Changing
Nature of Work

11. Understanding the Impact of Artificial
Intelligence on Labor

12. 1. Challenges of Human Capital development
• Neglect of government in funding of education sector
• Political instability which cause frequent changes in
education policies
• Low measure of budgetary allocation to human resources
development and its relative indices
• Low quality of education which affected Human Capital
Development
2. Challenges with Social Protect Programs
• Low coverage of social protection programs
• Political Interest
3. Brain Drain
The Problems Associated the Changing
Nature of work in Nigeria

13. HOW NIGERIA MUST PREPARE FOR THE
CHANGING NATURE OF WORK
This is a very fundamental question that every developing
country that is serious about her future must begin to look for
answers to. It has been estimated that about 65 per cent of
children starting school today are going to be in jobs in the
future that don't exist now.
The World Bank after extensive research has come up with the
Human Capital Index (HCI), which shows the contribution of
Health and Education to human capital, it shows countries how
much income they are losing due to gaps in human capital and
how much they stand to gain by adjusting those gaps. In their
assessment, any country serious about the welfare and
employment prospects of its people must first ensure their
survival both as infants and adults ensure provision of
adequate healthcare to see that they are productive and
provide quality education. According to the World Bank, many
children enrolled in school in Africa do not learn enough,
especially in mathematics.

14. The Nigerian government should as a matter of urgent
national importance make significant improvements in its
annual budgetary allocation to the education sector. The
620.5billion Naira(2) allocated to the sector in the 2019
budget still falls short of the UNESCO recommendation of
15-20% for developing counties. Concerted efforts should
also be made in the area of ICT education, this is necessary
because according to a study by Accenture, roles requiring
digital skills will grow by 12% in 2024.
There is no gain saying that for Nigerians to be prepared for
the future of work, we first have to survive and lead a
healthy life. In the face of prevalent stunting in children
between the ages of 0-5, serious measures need to be put in
place by the ministries of Health and Women Affairs to
check that pregnant women and new born babies have
access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
It doesn’t end there, this quality and affordable healthcare
should also be available all through adulthood. Studies
abound on the positive relationship between good health
and workplace productivity.
HOW NIGERIA MUST PREPARE FOR THE CHANGING
NATURE OF WORK Cont’d

15. 1. Invest in Human Capital
particularly early childhood education, to
develop high-order cognitive and sociobehavioral skills in addition to
foundational skills.
2. Enhance Social Protection
A solid guaranteed social minimum and
strengthened social insurance, complemented by reforms in labor market
rules in some emerging economies, would achieve this goal.
3. Create Fiscal Space for Public Financing of Human Capital
Development and Social Protection
Governments can optimize their
taxation policy and improve tax administration to increase revenue
without resorting to tax rate increases.
Recommendations

16. To conclude, serious efforts must also be made
in the area of awareness creation. The young
ones preparing to enter the world of work
must become aware that it is changing, and
must take vital steps to be ready for that
change. The government must put adequate
social protection measures in place to see that
our workforce is adequately prepared to
embrace the new nature of work. This is
important for us and other countries, faced
with similar economic problems and prospects,
otherwise we might not lose the ‘developing
countries’ tag for ages to come.
CONCLUSION