Scholars at AKSU Urge African Leaders to Own Development

Scholars and students from the Department of History and International Studies at Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) have called on African leaders to cease blaming colonialism for the continent's underdevelopment. They emphasized the need for leaders to take responsibility for establishing sustainable political and economic systems.

This position was articulated during a diplomatic discourse themed “Africa’s Underdevelopment: Colonial Legacy or Self-Inflicted?” The event included participants from Rivers State University and the University of Uyo. Dr Amah Williams, the chairman of the occasion, noted that the slow pace of development in Africa has often been attributed to colonial exploitative structures, which fostered dependency on foreign powers.

He urged participants to critically assess whether colonialism is the main barrier to development or if leadership failures have significantly contributed to current challenges. Representatives from the University of Uyo criticized African leaders for not taking responsibility for development despite decades of political independence, highlighting the continent's ongoing reliance on Western nations for economic and political guidance.