By Ige Adekunle
Prof. Peter Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), has called on African leaders to reduce dependence on foreign aid to create a brighter future for the continent.
Okebukola, the President, Global University for Innovation (GUNi-Africa made the call while delivering a public lecture organised by the Covenant University (CU) on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised in honour of the CU Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents, Dr David Oyedepo, for his 70th Birthday Anniversary.
The theme of the lecture is: ”The Black Race and the Leadership Question”.
According to Okebukola, many leaders of the black race over-rely on foreign aid or external loans without prioritising the development of sustainable economic policies.
“This external dependency fosters a belief that Africa cannot succeed without the help of the West or other global powers, reinforcing a perception of weakness and inferiority,” he said.
Okebukola identified mismanagement of resources, weak educational policies, corruption, poor governance, among others, as significant challenges bedevilling the continent.
He said that these challenges led to economic underdevelopment, social inequality and political instability in Africa.
The Ex-NUC scribe added that this development had deeply affected Africa negatively, worsened poverty and undermined public trust in governments.
He appealed to Africa leaders to create conducive environment for growth as this was causing intellectuals to leave their home countries for better opportunities abroad.
Okebukola said: “It is necessary for African countries to promote good governance and accountability, foster Pan-African unity, and invest in infrastructural development.
“They also need to invest in quality education, promote economic independence for self-reliance and to reduce dependency on external powers.
In his remarks, Dr David Oyedepo, Chancellor of the Institution, said that Africa leaders had no political solutions to the problems.
Oyedepo said that Africa needed to proffer solutions to its problems as imported content from Western countries could not solve the problems.
“Things must change and we must be the one to effect the change,” he said.
Also, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, said that the Lecture was germane as the continent was currently in need of good leadership.
Adebayo said that Africa with great potential was still crawling, as a result of the inability of Africa leaders to effectively use its God-endowed resources for human development. (NAN)