African Leaders Urged to Rethink Development Strategies

On August 7, 2023, in Lagos, African media professionals and public analysts convened at a Pan-African roundtable organized by the League of Nigerian Columnists (LNC) and the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS). The event, themed “From Mayibuye iAfrica to Abahambe!

South Africa and Other African Countries: Reflections on the Trajectory of a Relationship,” addressed the governance failures that lead to mass migration and xenophobia, particularly in South Africa. Mr. Ray Ekpu, chairman of the occasion and co-founder of Newswatch Magazine, highlighted the connection between good governance and national development, criticizing the South African government for not adequately condemning xenophobic violence.

He advocated for diplomatic engagement rather than retaliation against South African businesses in Nigeria, emphasizing that such actions would harm local workers. Ekpu called for the prosecution of perpetrators of violence and urged governments to support resettlement for victims.