African Indigenous Knowledge Advocated at Lokoja Conference

Dr. Zakariya Zakari, the Chief Executive Officer of MNI Analysis Partners, called on African governments to adopt local skills and indigenous knowledge for sustainable development during his lead paper presentation at the 2nd International Conference of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Federal University Lokoja, which took place from August 30 to September 2, 2023. The conference theme was “African Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Decolonial Praxis for Sustainable Development.” Zakari criticized the reliance on imported knowledge over the past decades, advocating for an “indigenous revolution” that prioritizes African knowledge systems.

He emphasized the need for universities to guide young Africans to embrace their culture and traditions. Prof. Olushola Omotola, the Keynote Speaker from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, supported this view, stating that indigenous knowledge should be integral to addressing issues like food security and health.

The conference was opened by Prof. Matthew Ajayi, acting Vice-Chancellor of FUL, who affirmed the university's commitment to research and innovation.