By Adeyinka Adeniran
Scholars, diplomats, researchers, experts among other stakeholders have said the security of the future of Africa in the global scheme of affairs is largely threatened by factors including bad governance, corrution, poor education among others.
For the continent to maintain and achieve global relevance in the nearest future, the stakeholders said there is an urgent need for effective leadership and good governance to drive Africa’s progress.
They spoke on Thursday at a Colloquium on the Theme: “The Future of Africa” and public presentation of some books as part of events to mark the 80th birthday of renowned scholar, diplomat and former Minister of Education, Emeritus Professor Tunde Adeniran.
The event which held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan had in attendance, policy makers, top government functionaries, members of the diplomatic community, scholars, associates, students, friends and family members.
Dignitaries at the event include the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, UI, Professor Kayode Adebowale, Ambassador ( Emeritus Professor) Michael Omolewa, Professor Rasheed Aderinoye, Professor (Senator) Ben Obi, Ambassador Akinremi Bolaji, former Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ola Makinde, former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Eddy Olanipekun, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, Dr Yemi Farounbi, Hon Taiwo Akeju, and set of 1967 of the University of Ibadan among others.
Setting the tone for the conversation, the Minister emphasized that the future of Africa is anchored on an education-led renaissance, noting that the continent’s progress depends on decisive actions in four key areas: curriculum revolution, investment in teacher quality, access to education, and tertiary education as a driver of innovation.
According to the Minister, Africa’s education curricula must be redesigned to prioritize science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), as well as critical thinking, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship.
These, he said, will enable the production of graduates who are not just job seekers but job creators.
The Minister also harped on the importance of investing in teacher quality, warning that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. He emphasized the need to restore the dignity of the teaching profession and make it a first-choice career for the best and brightest.
Dr Alausa however expressed gratitude to Professor Adeniran for his contributions to education and development in Africa. He called on the gathering to translate the discussions into actionable policies that will shape the future of the continent.
In their separate views during the Colloquium, speakers identified some of the challenges hindering the development of the African continent to include leadership deficit, lack of productivity among youth, bad governance, poor educational curriculum and disconnect between the leaders and the led among others.
Former Edo State Governor Professor (Senator) Oserhwimen Osunbor posited that with good leadership and governance, the current challenges facing Nigeria and the African continent will be surmounted.
According to him, the future of Africa will depend on the choices African leaders make to engender inclusive and sustainable development.
He identified corruption, foreign influences as impediments to Africa’ s growth and progress emphasizing that it’s future depends on how African leaders govern and respond to the challenges.
“With the increasingly worsening of governance today, the impunity, disregard for laws in the constitution and the desecration of the tenets of democracy, coupled with the level of despair, Nigeria risks being left behind by the rest of Africa and the world ” he warned.
On his part, Professor Isaac Albert of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan, observed that security challenges across the region coupled with leadership deficit have impacted negatively on the development of Africa.
He said the future of Africa is largely compromised with global uncertainties, expressing worry that while scholars think and brainstorm about future, politicians are mostly worried about elections, saying, “African development, Africa’s future depends on its ability to address multifaceted challenges and leverage its considerable assets and opportunities. The future of Africa is clearly compromised. We lack what is called political altruism. Our youths and the students we are teaching are not interested in any development. They are interested in what to get today,”
Forner Acting VC, UI, pProfessor Adebola Ekanola advised leaders to diversify its economy and focus on leveraging on the emerging technologies by empowering its youth to make them become productive and active participants in the emerging economies, saying “the future of Africa lies in our hands, both the leaders and general citizenship of Africa.”
In their submissions, Professor Hasan Saliu emphasized the need to address the disconnect between the leaders and the led stressing that the people must see government as their own before they can support it while Professor Jerry Ugokwe stated the need to empower the judiciary to create checks and balances and run democracy as it should.
He noted that the youth population can transform Africa, but that in the face of corruption, things may take a different form.
The colloquium concluded with a call to action, urging African leaders and citizens to work together to build a brighter future for the continent.
Reacting, the celebrant , Professor Adeniran expressed gratitude for the honor saying the colloquium provides an opportunity to reflect, review and think about certain things that affect Africans and to plan for the future.
He said, “One of the things that should be of concern to us now is our future, people talk about the good old days. It is not that God has withdrawn from us the natural and human resources he gave us , in fact, we are discovering more resources that are hidden under the ground in Africa and Nigeria in particular that were never discovered before, which means that our lives ought to be better and preparing for a better future than now.
“But when you consider certain things happening, one is frightened, you begin to ask yourself, if things are like this and continue this way, what type of future do we have? This is a very important issue ” he stated
Earlier in a welcome address, Professor Ayo Fadahunsi noted that the advantage of the African continent lies in it’s youth who are hungry for solutions emphasizing that “Africa can transform its perceived disadvantage to into a powerful opportunity ”
The highlight of the event is the public presentation of some of the books written by the celebrant.
