The Former President of Malawi and twelfth Guest Lecturer of the Annual Zik Lecture Series, Dr Joyce Banda has tasked African leaders on proper management of the continent’s resources in the interest of the people.
Dr Banda made the call at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, while delivering a lecture on the theme of the event, “Reclaiming Zik’s World: Climate Justice and Africa’s Sustainable Development”.
Emphasizing on the need for African leaders to borrow a leaf from the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe whom she described as a great man that sacrificed a lot for Nigeria and Africa in general, the one-time Malawian President, Dr Banda who attributed the major cause of economic hardship presently ravaging Africa to mismanagement of resources by corrupt leaders in the continent who embezzle public fund on daily bases, reminded the leaders that natural resources in the continent belong to the people and should not be used for their personal gains, and asked them to use the proceeds of the resources to provide the people with good life.
Dr Banda called on Africans to give women more opportunity to contribute to the development of the continent by accommodating them in decision making positions, even as she urged Nigerian government and others to create good opportunities for youths to minimize their migration to other countries of the world where they are most times ill-treated and sometimes killed.
The Governor of Oyo State, Dr Seyi Makinde who was the Chairman on the occasion, advocated total restructuring of Nigeria, pointing out that such remains the only way to settle issues in the country presently.
For the Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, bad leadership is the problem of Africa and not colonial masters, as according to him Africa had been long freed from the control of the colonial masters, saying that for the continent to experience progress and meaningful development, bad leadership has to be tackled squarely.
In an interview, the immediate past Managing Director of Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Dr Jude Emecheta encouraged leaders at different levels to jettison bad leadership style and render selfless services to the people they lead, just like the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe whom he observed valued national unity and progress over his personal gains.
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