African Leaders Called To Live Up To Their Responsibilities

LAGOS/Nigeria: African leaders have been called upon to live up to their responsibilities in tackling numerous problems facing the continent.

The Publisher, Realnews Magazine, Mrs. Maureen Chigbo, made the call in her welcome address at the Fifth Anniversary Lecture organized by the Magazine recently in Lagos.

According to Mrs. Chigbo, the Lecture came at a time when African Countries are struggling with ceaseless political and socio-economic turbulence, high youth unemployment with hundreds, if not thousands of young Africans perishing in the Mediterranean Sea on perilous journeys to Europe in search of so called greener pastures.

The theme of this year’s Lecture was, “African Leadership in a Turbulent Era”

Professor Akpan H. Ekpo, the Director-General of the West Africa Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) in his opening address stated that the theme of the lecture is very timely and relevant given the present global situation.

“The performance of African economy had been dismal with rising unemployment, poverty widening inequality and deterioration in the provision of social services to its citizen, the leadership cannot be taken seriously.” Prof Ekpo state

The Guest Lecturer, Dr (Mrs.) Oby Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Adviser, Economic Development Policy initiative (AEDPI) and former Minister of Education, provided a robust and illuminating analysis of the theme and urged African Leaders to tackle the issues of poverty and youth unemployment in the region.

She also said that Africa would face greater challenges in the nearest future if it failed to tackle poverty and youth employments, saying that about 80 percent of the youth population in the continent annually was yearning for gainful employment.

Dr Ezekwesili, said despite economic growth of the continent, its economy was stocked. “Although Africa has made some progress in politics, the continent is still backward in terms of economic development. No country has been found to develop without Good Governance.” This she said, ‘Provides improved living condition’. She emphasised Africa needs leadership that is accountable.

A discussant, Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) said the continent especially was not lacking in human capacity but the conspiracy of the elite would not allow the human capacity to be developed, even as he stated that unless the continent works towards building Institutions, it would continue to suffer.

Another discussant, Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation, (NNPC) who was represented by Engr. Siku Aliyu, Managing Director, National Engineering and Technical Company (NETC) said recurring security challenges in the Niger Delta, volatility of crude oil prices occasioned by supply glut or global economic were some of the challenges facing the oil and gas sector.

He said “It will be deceptive to think that navigating the turbulence era on the oil and gas industry starts and end with providing effective leadership alone. Responsible followership, I reckon, would also be part of the solution, if not the panacea.”

Realnews Fifth anniversary lecture was the investiture of Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Akpan Hogan Ekpo, Dr. Maikanti Baru and Mr. Waheed Olagunju into the Realnews Hall of fame.

Goodwill and congratulatory messages were made by eminent Nigerians at the occasion, appreciating the good job of Realnews magazine.

Present at the lecture was Rtd. Major Gen. Martin Luthur Agwai, former Chief of Defense Staff and among of others.

 

Ndokwa Reporters

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