Africa should raise individuals to turn around our fortunes, Ezekwesili — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Ex-Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa Region and former Education Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has underscored the need to raise individuals that would turn around the fortunes of Africa through good governance.

Ezekwesili, the founder of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG), stated this in Abuja at the weekend at a press conference to mark the conclusion of this year’s Africa Conference.

The event, which attracted representatives from 12 African countries, saw participants from Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe, among others.

“Our continent is failing the majority of our people, not the continent actually, there is leadership failing the majority of our people. We want to change that story and reality so that factually, as we begin to populate the public space with minds that have characters, that have competence and capacity, and therefore govern for the public good and the African citizen will be at par if not ahead with the most advanced of society in our world,” she said.

The renowned economic policy expert stressed the need for substantial systemic changes in governance to facilitate meaningful development across the continent.

While expressing worry over the cost of living crisis, poverty, and poor democratic governance in Africa, the founder said the conference recommended systemic changes in governance to meet the developmental needs of the continent.

“Every country that is represented here, we see them as the voice of the citizens of this continent asking for systemic change because if the system of governance doesn’t change, we will only be making progress on the margin or in fact, going backwards,” she stated.

The SPPG founder called for robust collaboration to ensure the desired systemic change.

Her words: “Citizens and leaders collaborating to deliver systemic change. It takes collaboration for Africa to become what we aspire collectively to see a continent that developed, but not only developed but develop in an inclusive way of ensuring that all citizens have access to the productivity, capabilities and skills and all opportunities that are necessary to participate in building a prosperous continent.”

Joined by former Minister of Information Frank Nweke Jnr., Ezekwesili described the Africa Conference as an initiative aimed at fostering effective leadership in Africa.

“The SSPG which we have in Nigeria, in Senegal, and we will soon have in Ghana, in Kenya, and in Zimbabwe, trains people who will be a new generation of African politicians and public servants who serve the people as custodians of the African public space so that the well-being of the African citizens will be at the centre of the rule of government in our continent.

“The Africa conference is an idea of having a place of minds that are different in a way that they interpret public leadership can meet together, share knowledge, network, collaborate, cooperate, and work together to deliver a broader community of people,” she said, adding that the conference was part of a week of celebration of the SSPG graduation ceremony of Class 2024.

The event, themed “Good Governance in Africa: Leaders and Citizens Driving Systemic Change,” held from October 3rd to 4th, 2024.

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