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| Education, Leadership and Development in the African World The Second International conference on
Education, Leadership and Development in the African World was held from July 17-19, 2000 at Nicon Hilton
Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria. His Excellency Prince Abubakar Audu, Executive Governor
of Kogi State and NewsAfrica (UK) Ltd., sponsored the conference;
HIV/AIDS
educational materials were donated by Elizabeth Taylor Center/Whitman Walker Clinic, Washington, D.C., and The World
Bank; and a donation from Western Union International.
The project aimed at providing an opportunity for educators, government officials, private sector representatives, women and youth to dialogue, consult with experts, exchange ideas and acquire basic network skills. The meeting focused on (i) ways and means of improving education in Africa; (ii) governance and the civil society; and (iii) HIV/AIDS pandemic, ways of living with victims of the disease, and formation of support groups for victims.
Speakers included: His Excellency Prince Abubakar Audu, Executive Governor of Kogi State who declared the conference open; His Excellency Alhaji Mu’Azu, Executive Governor of Bauchi State who gave the Keynote address; Senator Khairat Abdul-Razaq Gwadabe; Professor Chukuka Okonjo, Economist/Statistician; Professor Samuel A. Aluko, Economist; Alhaji Saidu B. Samaila, Chairman, NewsAfrica/Executive Director, Inland Bank (Nig.) Plc.; Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa, Chairman/MD, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc.; Dr. Mobolaji Aluko, Howard University; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, The World Bank; Dr. Joseph Obi, University of Richmond; Marietau Tenuche, Kogi State University; Margaret Effiong, The French Center; Dr. Chukwuma Nwaonicha, 3M Adhesive Technologies Center; Dr. Z. Momoh, Kogi State University; and Uduak Bassey Daniel, Development Options. PROCEEDINGS EXCERPTS Opening Address by His Excellency, Prince Abubakar Audu, Executive Governor of Kogi State of Nigeria. "The level and quality of education and the nature of political leadership in our continent are major determinants of the pace and sustainability of our development process." He attributes the "slow pace of development in most African countries as the direct result of the high level of illiteracy and the poor quality of leadership. It is commonly said and it is true that the cost of illiteracy is higher than that of education. Therefore, my belief is that no efforts should be spared to educate the people and bring to the lowest minimum the illiteracy rate in Africa. We must take our destiny in our hands and live up to the challenge of joining the league of advanced countries of the world." Keynote Address by His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’Azu, Executive Governor of Bauchi State of Nigeria. Africa in the 21st Century: Towards Re-thinking Educational, Leadership and Development Policies.
Senator Khairat Abdul-Razaq Gwadabe. Effective Leadership creates
conducive Economic and Social Environment. "The issues posed by this
on-going conference all have a bearing on the development imperative for Africa and
how this impacts on development –human, material and physical. The key feature
of development is that at any given juncture, the social relations in the
society become no longer effective in promoting advancement. Indeed they begin
to act as Professor Sam Aluko, Financing Higher Education in Nigeria. "The importance of education needs no preaching. We are all assembled here because we, in our various ways and from various localities, states and countries, have been to school and received certain measures and levels of education, otherwise, there would have been no means of communication and interaction between and among us. Furthermore, the concept, purpose and the actualization of Abuja 2000 are the products of the minds of those who have had the opportunities of higher education. Thus, it is accepted and proven that the value of education rests on the fact that people enhance their capabilities as thinkers, actors, producers or/and consumers by the acquisition of education, particularly, higher education. Education is a form of investment in human capital. It is probably the most important form of economic investment. It is the most important and central engine of economic growth and development. Investment in higher education is the more important and the more central to economic advancement today in the light of the increasingly growing competitiveness, globalization and domination by information and communication technology." Chukwuma Nwaonicha, PhD. An Overview of Polymer Technology. Polymers are large molecules built up by the linking together of monomers, and monomers are obtained from petrochemicals. Polymers are used as flexible plastics, rigid plastics, fibers and elastomers (rubbers). Polyurethanes are polymers that cover a wide range of chemical and physical properties. Over 68% of global polyurethane consumption are accounted for in four sectors: automotive, construction, furniture and mattresses, and technical insulation. Other industrial applications of polyurethane include footwear, paints, medical, marine and aerospace. Growth in these major applications continues to be driven largely by emerging markets implementing state-of-the-art technology already in developed countries. Mobolaji Aluko, PhD. Education for Development & E-Mocracy for
Africa. "It gives me great pleasure to be given the opportunity to
briefly exchange with this forum Alhaji Saidu B. Samaila. Youths’ Involvement in Crimes: Causes,
Effect and Solutions."The demographic history of youths’ involvement
in crimes in Nigeria is a study in sociology and human psychology. Over the
years, the character of crimes Alhaji Saidu B. Samaila. Educating Africans: The News Africa Perspective. "Traditional African societies had an interesting concept of education. It was one, which not only involved the totality of life but also prepared the individual for its challenges. Thus a girl child was raised not only to be a farmer, if that was the anticipated career but also to being a good wife, mother and leader. The male child was taught the values of coping with life’s challenges, being a good father, husband and leader. This unique approach accounted for the social stability of African societies. Divorces were rare and children were raised by their parents to be responsible members of the community in particular and the society in general. Political systems were stable and leaders though not elected had a good sense of the utility of power –using it in service of the society. Crime was very low and involved, in most cases, misdemeanors. Above all this, the value system was not defined by wealth but was based on intrinsic values like honesty, integrity and responsibility. We are therefore positioning the NewsAfrica project to spearhead the re-education of Africans in the continent and the Diaspora. We are rediscovering the values of our people and using it to create a new generation of self-confident Africans. Very soon, the result of our efforts will become apparent. Others must redefine their roles and join hands to rediscover Africa for its people. It will be incomplete to conclude this thought provoking remark by not saluting the courage, foresight and goodwill of President Clinton for signing into law H.R. 434 the all important African Growth and Opportunity Act of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 on May 18th, 2000. The President and the majority of the US Congress members that worked so hard to get this bill through the Congress have come to the same reality as us that What Africa and Africans need today are equal opportunity trading partners not aid." Marietu Tenuche. Economic Empowerment for Political participation: The Case of Nigerian Women."The low level of political participation of women during the period that Nigeria has been opportune to practice democratic governance (i.e. 1960 – 1965, 1979 and 1983 and 1999 to date) is evidenced by the dismissible number of women that have occupied leadership positions within party hierarchy and the equally dismissible number who have sought and won elections at the three tiers (local, state and federal). The total percentage of women in positions of leadership in the three tiers of government in Nigeria in the last three decades has been put at 2%." Z. O. Momoh, PhD. The Unique Nature of Virus."The general cry about H.I.V. and the supposedly incurable nature of it (by popular international opinion) can be fully understood if one takes a look at the unique nature of virus and its mode of infection viz a viz that of other pathogens. In other human pathogens such as bacteria, protozoa etc., the invading pathogen maintains its identity in one form or the other throughout its life cycle. Host cells are usually destroyed as invasion proceeds. It is therefore often possible to find drugs that can kill or inactivate the pathogen without significantly injuring the cells of the host at the same drug concentration. This is not the case with virus." Margaret B. Effiong. Women and Education: Promoting Quality Education. "Gone are the days when women were only taking care of the home and making the kitchen their office. They were being restricted to only home economics and market organization but today women are moving more into the educational world. A woman who is very well educated with the fear of the Lord can very well rule the world." Uduak Bassey Daniel. Sex Education and the changing way of life in an AIDS era. "As most adolescents leave their homes and enter formal cliques, they develop peer networks, exchange new ideas and interact with peers of the opposite sex outside the supervision of their families. Their interactions offer them the opportunity to contribute to sensitive topics while reserving knowledge for future contributions and adventures. Interaction offers them greater independence in choosing friends and affords them the opportunity to expand their horizons which exposes them to one way or the other to the AIDS virus." Emmanuel Ike Udogu, PhD. The Issues of Political Leadership and Governance in a Democratic Nigeria: An Overview."The issue of leadership in Nigeria politics, and the problems that flow from it, has taxed the intellectual wits and analyses of both Nigerianist and Africanist scholars who care to examine this phenomenon. This is so because the country has had a tough time producing effective leaders with national legitimacy. Moreover, the republic’s political, social, economic and religious instability are compounded by, among other factors, the lack of transparency, accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law especially during the military regimes. These issues are real in a political system that lacks adequate leadership and fails to provide the citizens with sufficient enablements, in a resource-rich polity, to pursue their individual and collective interests. The outcome of this development, of course, is national angst." Joseph E. Obi, PhD. Towards Relevant Education: For Sociology in the Secondary Education Curriculum. "Sociology established itself as an academic discipline on the main claim that no field of study before it had taken, as subject matter, society as a reality sui generis. Today, perhaps more than ever, Africa needs citizens who can decode their increasingly complex social reality through the type of totalizing optic that sociology provides. As a nomothetic science, sociology’s major quest is to clarify the links between particular lived experiences and overarching structural variables. Given the problematics of the postcolonial condition in Africa, there is a critical need to enhance the sociological imagination across the citizenry, especially among that segment of the population that will never receive formal education beyond the post-primary level." Professor Chukuka Okonjo. Formulating an appropriate Theory and Implementation Strategy for an African Development Transitions. "It is pointed out that the developmental theories hitherto applied have been dysfunctional in regard to the communal nature of most societies in the African Region, where evolution from a communal structure to a pluralist one had been interrupted. First by an imposed external colonialism and then by an internal colonialism. The problem, therefore is not just only in choosing elements of the imposed structures which are in consonance with a modernization of the African nation states but also to elaborate adequate theory of development and an implementation strategy for action by a leadership genuinely committed to an improvement of the fate of the masses. Such an alternative development paradigm is seen in a structural transformation of the economy from below (STEB) achieved through simultaneous and sustainable development empowering people (SISUDEP) in ten areas critical to development. Namely, education, science and technology, information and communication, health care, food and nutrition, employment, culture, particularly the languages, income and wealth, community living and the environment and particularly democracy." Mazi Sam I. Ohuabunwa. Youth Sexuality and HIV/AIDS. (Slide presentation). Attributes the problem of sexuality on (a) biological development -- hormonal influence, adventurism; (b) Cultural practices -- early marriage, child labor including child soldiers; and destitution; (c) Level of sexual education -- low education, cultural inhibition, parental failure, and broken homes; (d) Media -- television, print and radio; (e) Music -- new wave and dance especially makosa; (f) Adverts -- alcohol, cigarettes and perfumes; (g) Travel -- local & international and freedom from controls. His presentation provides an insight to the staggering statistics of HIV/AIDS in Africa. He proposed preventive measures the government should adopt in addressing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS. He suggests behavior change -- communication including mass media, peer education, interactive theater, and home counseling (parental impact); National policy on AIDS -- HIV/AIDS special task force, adequate funding, availability of condoms, free diagnosis & treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STD), counseling and incorporate awareness in school curricula; Ensuring a safe blood supply -- preventing transmission from mother to child, inculcating fear of God, and encouraging responsible behavior by restoring values of chastity.
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"The choice of the broad objectives of the conference
to discuss ways of improving education in
Africa, address issues of governance, as well as highlight the public on
HIV/AIDS could not have been more appropriate, as it comes at a time when our people are battling with the hydra-headed
problems of illiteracy, poverty and the pandemic HIV/AIDS, to mention but a
few. This singular effort by the organizers of this conference is therefore
highly commendable and a clear testimony to their concern for the socio-economic
development of our people. Today, more than ever before, African educators are
facing a compelling responsibility to serve society, by fostering the
transformations needed to set Africa on the path to sustainable development. The
time has really come for us to ensure that the concepts of education for
sustainability and leadership are woven into a framework upon which current and
future policies can be based. What, in other words, this point stresses that Africa must embrace "education for
sustainability", which I see as a life-long learning process that leads to
an informed and involved citizenry that has the creative problem-solving skills,
scientific and social literacy, and commitment to engage in responsible
individual and co-operative actions. These actions will help ensure an
environmentally sound and economically prosperous future for Africa."
brakes on the productive forces and therefore need to be discarded. To
effectively manage development, a responsible leadership is needed. Leadership,
which makes its mark in history, is that which devotes itself entirely to the
pursuit of the sensibilities of its disparate citizenry. All too often,
effective leadership is touted as a mantra for Africa’s myriad of challenges.
I daresay RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP is what African nations require. Concerns with
democracy, development, leadership and conflicts entail RECONSTRUCTION OF
SOCIETIES. When societies are the problem, the structures that are relevant are
those that determine types of governments, namely, political parties, pressure
groups, and NGOs. For too long Africa and African Leadership have been contented
with the status quo. Africa can only be at par with the developed world, when we
all collectively resolve to accept the challenges of change."
some of my thoughts on a vision for education
for development and democracy in the electronic age –which I have termed
"e-mocracy – with respect to Africa. This is because I am of the firm
belief that it is only the right kind of education that is important, education
that realizes and intentionally designs that it must lead to the development of
the individual human mind. That mind is also part of a social and political
structure in contact with others within a given country and in a global context.
Secondly, the electronic information age puts both new challenges and
opportunities for education in Africa, if indeed we are to leapfrog from the
doldrums that we find ourselves to economic, social and political advancement.
Therefore, let me state from the onset that I am not so much concerned with
Education for All, but rather Education for What? It is only really when we
properly address "for what" can we properly respond to why it should
be "for all." 
committed by youths in Nigerian has
been characterized by progressive sophistication. It is not surprising. As
societies change, so do the crimes. Sheep and farm-produce stealing, which formed
a large proportion of the more serious offences in pre-independent Nigeria are
neither so widespread nor so seriously regarded in modern Nigeria in contrast
with drug-related and 419 (False Pretence/Cheating) offences." It is
therefore axiomatic that in a country of over 100 million citizens of which more
than half are youths, the law enforcement agents must be constantly alert to
grapple with deviant behavior. In other words, they must employ similar or even
more sophisticated ways in dealing with the menace, as its effect on the
Nigerian polity is too severe for comfort. It is imperative to note that Deviant
Behavior is not in itself wholly useless. It can be Harmless, Positive or
Negative.