Why is Africa Poor?

Africa is a continent that possesses what it takes to move out of the third world countries mapping. It has intellectual human capacity –a people dedicated to service and hard work; and rich natural resources, though, the mere fact that most countries in Africa are found to be failed states already sets a pointer that the continent is poor.

 

While the continent struggles through a stagnated growth margin with a weak economy, dysfunctional educational system, poor healthy care delivery structure and massive unemployment.

 

One factor which contributes to the continent's continuous snail growth is her leadership.  The governments have failed to render service but prefer to be served. There seem to be very little political will on marking up strategies to ensure sustainable development.

 

A major one is the cash economy currently operated in the continent. This is the biggest and hidden maggot that cripples micro economy sector like the small medium enterprises (SMEs) -the bedrock of a growing economy and continuously pull downward the entire macro economy.

 

In Europe and America, a credit economy ensures that an average person can own a duplex or get a good car with a 3 to 5-year repayment plan. In Africa, the trend is the reverse; you have to pay cash for every bit of transaction made. No wonder an average Westerners can't afford to stay in Africa, not because the environment is not propitious but the economy is just too expensive to bear.

 

No wonder, people who have privilege on authority embezzle so much than they can chew; no wonder corruption rate is high in the continent; no wonder the high rate of unemployment even as the citizens are very  hardworking and committed people.

 

The economic crunch needs just a regulation by a government that is able to exhibit good governance, which would obviously provide for her citizens basic amenities (good roads, electricity, water supply and a working healthcare delivery service); security and employment.

 

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The discussions I have this evening with mr. Oluseun Bamgboye broadened by horizon as to why Africa is poor and would continue to be poor.

 

UnyimeAbasi Essien

mclato@gmail.com

+234 802 429 3798

 

A Local Experience

Saturday, February 13, 2010 was to memory the life I lived 15 years ago. I was on a trip to a local community in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. As we drove through the narrow village road, saw the community setting, children walking about from one compound to the other, young people returning from stream and fetching fire wood. There and then, I made use of my phone to get this pictures.

I would wonder why such thought came to me. I have been to several local projects but this time my emotion was different. I tried to imagine what would have happen if I were to stay put there.

Don't mind me, village community life is soft, sweet, affordable. Everyone cares and share. So, how long have you been to your own local place. Take a trip there soon!

The Nigerian Education Sector

Education as we already know is the bedrock of any society and its the connecting rod or the bridge that connects each society to the other. Formal Education is still very necessary. For instance, with no formal education Nigerians would only speak her local languages and not known to other languages. This also facilitates development, which is very obvious in francophone countries. The Nigerian story when it comes to the benefits derived from formal education turns on a different pivot. The crop of leaders in the country are ruling instead of leading. They are self-centred. Even in our youth cycle, youths who have acquired formal education tends to look-down on their peers who have not had such opportunity.

ASUU strike in 2009 was an eye opener showing us that some leaders in the country, if opportune, would deny average Nigerian the rights to formal education. Therefore, having access to primary education (MDGs 1) to tertiary institution should be encouraged among young people. However, formal education is becoming a necessity as a starting point to become an entrepreneur and a professional.

The budgetary allocation for education was N117 billion in 2005, N182.6 billion in 2006, N188 in 2007 and inN210.45 in 2008, somehow this yearly increase tends to comply with UNESCO 26% stipulation for budgetary allocation to education.

But people should look beyond the figures to see how the budgetary process has been used as an effective tool in dealing with the multifarious problems confronting the nation’s education sector.

All the countries that ranked top in the Human Development Index (HDI) released by UNICEF have one thing in common – a highly educated population. Similarly, there is a direct link between a country’s literacy rate and its per capita income. As a result, countries which have the highest rate of higher education also ranked highest in per capita income. In our country, though, the constitution of Nigeria gives all citizens the right to education, government’s commitment to this right is naught.

Its high time, the government place importance on her citizens' right to education by
1. Giving adequate and timely funding to the sector;
2. Ensure that funds are judiciously spent;
3. Stop giving deaf-ears, but monitor how the funds is put to use.

More About UnyimeAbasi

Fellow Impactors,

You can read more about Unyimeabasi through the links below:

About UnyimeAbasi
http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/unyimeabasi

Member Story on TakingITglobal.org
http://www.takingitglobal.org/connections/stories/story.html?MemberID=263825

More Blogs by Unyimeabasi
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Panorama by Unyimeabasi
http://www.takingitglobal.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=21277

Adams Oshiomole is the Governor of Edo State

Today, the Nigeria Appeal Court confirms former President of Nigeria’s Labour Union, NLC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole of Labour Party as the Governor of Edo state after his victory at the Tribunal.

His words " i congratulate the Judiciary for proving the just, and thank Nigerian who supported me in diverse measures to make today a reality"

From this indication, it shows that the court is moving on the right direction in Nigeria and the rule of law of the Umaru Musa Ya'Adua's government is receiving good marks from the masses.

Oshiomole stated that the suffering and struggle of the Edo people for the past two years has finally ended as he would take all possible steps to make Edo people feel the impact of true democracy.

On the other hand, Oshiomole is from Labour party and his house members are mostly PDP and ACs, can he really cope with this parade?

The You in You!

Did you know this?

Naturally, we are born with something very special and impacting, but it takes 'you' to discover that inborne or God-given talent placed in you. Where you are today is just like 'one waiting at a bus stop to board a bus to another location.

But;

-are you just alright there where you are now?

-do you intend to move on from there? if not,

-what would probably stop you from moving on?IF you are to move on...

-which location are you heading to from where you are now?

-what are you plans when you get to the new location?

Take a step today and make a change in your life. The people within, near and afar are waiting for a change initiated by someone . . . that's you!

You can make it happen...

ANC Black-Listing

It is rather unfortunate that a country like South Africa, which the US have excellent relations with still have to obtain waiver for her people to enter US.
The restriction is a lost-long issue of some 16 years after the end of Apartheid; 15 years after Nelson Mandela received the Nobel Prize for Peace and and 14 years after heading the South Africa executive.

May be the South Africans were never interested on how to resolve the issue not until now that the list is revisited.

Be it as it may, some Reps... Howard Berman, D-Calif., Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H. etc are heading a bill that would remove current and former ANC leaders from the watch lists. Also, the Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice strongly supports the Senate Reps that introduced the bill, which aims to remove these restrictions. They bill is hoped to be passed before Mandela's 90th birthday, July 18.

It is hopeful that the the ANC and it’s leaders will be cleared from the US black-list as soon as the law is passed.