CEO/Publisher of African Development Magazine, Mr. Ayo Ilesanmi, spoke with Abimbola Akosile on various issues hindering the development process of Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. Excerpts:
You have always been an advocate of Africa's development mainly by Africans. Given the language and cultural barriers, which has polarised African nations along colonial lines, how feasible is your recommendation?
There is no country or continent that was solely developed by foreigners, Africans must seize the initiative to develop Africa, given that colonial rule destroyed the cohesion between brothers and artificial borders were erected for effective administration. Africa is one, and we have similar cultures, religion and our languages cut across regions. We face similar challenges, but we can use these setbacks as a springboard for success, if only we can focus on issues that bind us together. African leadership must be alive to its responsibilities and put the continent back on track.
Regional integration connotes starting from countries within various regions, what is your remedy to make this a reality in Africa?
There is strength in unity; unfortunately, we have not utilised the opportunity of proximity in Africa. If you look at ECOWAS which came on board almost 40 years ago, would you say that they have fulfilled the dream of the founding fathers? A region of 15 countries that boast of over 250 million people and various minerals deposit, with similar cultures and languages. The way to go is to develop the infrastructures that will facilitate free and easy movement. We need to have regional cooperation that will improve our education, health, transport, defense and tourism. The more we come together, the better for the future of the continent and we need to move to the level of collaboration between institutions. Another key issue is that of leadership; Nigeria must wake up from its slumber and lead the region for the others to follow. ECOWAS is mired in bureaucracy and needs to free itself and live up to its name.
Peer review mechanism is a useful development tool but its application has waned among African Union members countries. How can this best be revisited for the collective good of the continent?
It’s basically a leadership problem, the inability of African Union to rein in corrupt leadership among the union makes it quite difficult for any meaningful peer review process, especially between countries. Who look ups to whom? The more reason we took up the challenge at ADM to revive it at the private level. We must realise that the problems faced by Africans are internalised. The best way to bring this into perspectives is to give vent to more opportunities across our continent. The perspectives of our people in Kenya, Johannesburg, Accra, Zambia and even the Diaspora are to help us reach a consensus and learn from each other. It is said that problems shared are half solved, that way we can reach a wider consensus on how to tackle the problems. At times it is quite complicated, the way we refuse to appreciate ourselves, basically we need to close the widening interactive gap that exist between institutions and more importantly, government should listen to us, the new media preaching integration.
In your past publications, you appeared to sound a note of caution on the issue of foreign aid for development in Africa. Given that some African nations have economies that largely subsist on donor aid and grants from global financial institutions, where would you advise them to draw the line when it comes to aid?
How can a country rely solely on aids, what makes a country tick? Does a country survive only on mineral resources? I can go on and on. Foreign aid is not designed for development purposes, it’s a poison that we have taken so much in Africa and we are all dizzy. African leadership must take a cue from the Asian tigers, and ask salient questions. Is it foreign aids that developed China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Botswana? You don’t go borrowing when you have resources that are as good as money.
Human capital development is the panacea to development, the wars of today are in the minds of the people, and the companies of the future are the ones that provide scientific solution to make life easier. China took the world by surprise and is the main lender to the world, how much of aids brought about this? We should look inward to solve our problem, even when we decide to borrow, it must only be for critical needs not for white elephant projects that have no bearing on the well being of the people.
Africa is a continent that is blessed with abundant natural and human resources, which has also been described as a curse. How can this be reversed for the common good?
The only way to reverse the curse ‘thing’ is for Africa to as a matter of urgency focus on the youths that are now over 200 million across the continent. They have the mass, the energy and if we can get them to focus on development, we might be saving Africa. The truth must be told that the leadership of the last 50 years has failed the continent. Under-development, corruption and wars are the legacies they can show for being in power for over five decades.
The new crops of leaders must be home grown and exposed to the world early; countries must invest heavily on public education. The exclusivity being promoted across the continent will only take us back to the Stone Age; one wonders if the exclusive system of government prevalent across Africa is not the reason why the continent is on her knees.
The issue of corruption among African leaders is a thorny one, where majority of the people are suffering acute poverty and a few elites enjoy the commonwealth. Is there any way to address this negative trend?
Corruption is endemic here because the rule of law is subsumed under the rule of man, where state institutions are weak or are at best derelict. The institutions when solid will serve justice and will deter the law breakers. In a situation where people steal and are granted national honours, the fabric of the society is destroyed. A society where we are each other’s keepers will not breed corruption, where questionable wealth is queried and the society act as watch dog. A situation where people are above the law will only breed anarchy, and corruption is one of the recipes for the impunity that is prevalent in Africa today.
Your publication gives awards for excellence to some individuals and organisations. What are the basic criteria you apply in this award process?
Yes, this is our third anniversary, and we are happy that the continent is already taking us very serious. The criteria are quite simple but rigorous. We have the nominations handled by our eminent jurist that comprise professionals of different hues from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and South Africa. They look out for five basic indices which include: years of operation, innovation, sustainability, excellence and integrity. It’s more of solution provision rather than profit or popularity.
Infrastructure has often been described as the panacea to tackling poverty and under-development in Africa. Do you share this view and which sector/s should be focused on to ensure adequate infrastructure across the continent?
Infrastructure is key to development but it cannot be a one-size-fits-all cure. Infrastructure is critical to opening up the continent, will fast track trade and movement and help make life easier. But, the continent needs knowledgeable drivers that are quite healthy and educated, and since one third of the continent are youths, no effort should be spared to invest heavily on education and healthcare systems that will guarantee sustainability for all. The youth that are not properly schooled will not maintain the best of infrastructure, even when they are meant to be catalyst for development. In essence, integrated development plan is what is required for development of the economy; no sector should be left behind, while issue of human capital development must be prioritised.
What informed your choice of Ghana as the venue of the awards and do you intend to go to a larger extent in your selection for excellence process?
Three years ago when African Development Magazine came on board, the focus was to promote the renaissance and integration of the continent. This has not changed to date, and we believe that this can be handled best at regional level, and Ghana readily provided a good example of a country that is run professionally.
However, as from next year the award will be moved around other West African countries, same attempt will be made to initiate the Easter African chapter of the recognition management. The same way, the Southern chapter will be instituted to provide an interactive platform for Africans to network and share ideas while pushing for the growth of the economy. Look at the recognition being awarded our banks by these funny foreign companies, and we rush to celebrate such, how come most of those banks eventually crashed?
The rush is on again, but you see, we are best suited to identify great African Brands and promote them to stand rooted in excellence, but most Africans still feel inferior to the other skin. At African Development, we are proud of our heritage and we promote homemade excellence.
Lastly, as a development practitioner, what legacy do you intend to institute as a result of these awards, and where do you see this process in 5 or 10 years' time?
In 5-10 years, we intend to be noted as the main private institution that drives development across the continent, to be courted by great African brands as partners in renaissance and integration of Africa; to be recognised by multilateral and international organisations as the top knowledge-driven media in Africa. One day we will have Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, and other African brands on the podium for recognition by ADM, and that dream is not really far away.
Culled from thisdaylive.com
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