VOLUME 12, ISSUE 4
IMPACT FACTOR 4.428
1) Leadership and the Success of African Integration and Development Agenda: Juxtaposing the African Continental Free Trade Area-Afcfta and Agenda 2063
Author’s Details: Chimaobi Okorie (PhD), Department of Social Works University of Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria. chimaookorie@gmail.com Okon Bassey Bassey, Department of Political Science University of Calabar Cross River State Nigeria, Eme Edim Okang-Department of Library and Information Science, University of Calabar Cross River State Nigeria
Abstract:
After emancipation, from devastating epoch of slavery and colonialism, the respective African states with its leaders embarked on myriads of developmental policies. This was a follow-up to ‘Kwame Nkrumah’s philosophy of “seek ye first the political freedom and every other thing will be added into you”. Ironically the granting of political independence to African states soon became a nightmare.This is so as many countries in the continent ran into boiling and troubling waters: military coups, civil wars, inter-state wars, poverty, bad governance, separatism, environmental conflict and degradation, poor health security, over dependence on foreign aid with it’s concomitant huge debt burdens, etc. This philosophical underpinning of kwame Nkrumah above prompted the flooding of African political landscape with lots of policies(both homegrown and externally induced from western world), ranging from, import substitution and industrialization strategy, structural adjustment program-SAP, Privatization, millennium development goals, sustainable development goals, African growth and opportunity act, etc.It remains an irony that after all such lofty integration and development policies, with enormous rich natural resources beneath the African soil and untapped human capital, still the continent is suffering from insurmountable governance pathologies and developmental quagmire,and unable to benefit from the global trade. It is upon this backdrop, the study delves into ascertaining the extent at which Leadership influence the success of the African regional integration and development scheme,with focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area-AFCFTA and Agenda 2063.The study explored the content analysis methodological orientation as data were gotten from only secondary sources(textbooks, journal publications, magazines),etc. while the good governance theory and regional integration theories were explored to buttress the work. The study discovered that, if there is no visionary, corrupt-free, competent, selfless leaders who are willing to disentangle from neocolonial dependence syndrome,and forge a common but sustainable front, such ideas of integration and development can not be achieved or sustained. Hence Unity among African leaders, discipline and willingness to disentangle from neocolonial dependence, corrupt-free, committed, transparent Leadership with ideology of pursuing integration course with integrity, trust,mutual cooperation is needed.
Keywords: Africa, Leadership, development, regional integration, AFCFTA, Vision 2063, Africa
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2) Mirroring the Developmental Challenges of Oil-Rich Nigeria within the Context of Resource Curse/Dutch Disease and Paradox of Plenty
Author’s Details: Chimaobi Okorie,(PhD), Department Of Social Works University of Calabar Cross River State Nigeria,Emem Udoh, Legal Advisor for Resolve To Safe Lives, Abuja -FCT Nigeria. Okon Bassey Bassey , Department Of Political Science University of Calabar Cross River State Eme Edim Okang-Department Of Library and Information Science, University of Calabar Cross River State Nigeria.
Abstract:
The oil-rich Nigerian state, despite the abundance of oil revenue which contributes about 95% export earning and 40% GDP , is still grappling with myriads of developmental challenges. There is the reasoning that enormous revenue from mineral and other natural resources in the form of financial gains should engender positive development. Such development implies: Security of citizens, employment, education, good roads, sustainable wage/salaries, poverty reduction, violent-free election, electricity, sustainable environment, etc. But unfortunately the case of Nigeria and most resource-rich countries has been a curse rather than a blessing with symptoms of dutch disease .Such indices of Dutch disease and paradox of plenty that ravages the Nigerian state manifests in the form of the abandoning of other sectors(agriculture, service, industrial,),since the oil boom, petro-violence/resource war as occurred in the Niger Delta with the bunkering, kidnappings of foreign oil expatriates for ransom, environmental degradation without compensation, corruption, poverty, unemployment, hunger, dependency, heavy debts burden, insecurity, decayed infrastructure and social services, etc. It is upon this backdrop the study examined the unpalatable developmental quagmire of the Nigerian state within the framework of Dutch disease and paradox of plenty taking into consideration, three critical issues: corruption, underdevelopment and political violence. The study proceeds with content analysis methodology as data was gotten from secondary sources (textbooks, magazine, journal publications,etc). The resource curse theory was explored to buttress the work. The study discovered that: corruption, monolithic nature of the economy, bad leadership bereft of the political will, who have criminalized the state with their rent-seeking behavior etc. is the bane of the country’s development,hence diversification, industrialization, human capital development, sincere fight against corruption, etc. should be adopted.
Keywords: Development, Corruption, Political Violence, Dutch Diesease, Paradox of Plenty, Resource Curse, Nigeria.
[Download Full Paper] [Page 19-35]
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3) Cryptocurrency: How Regulators Can Strengthen Digital Currency Regulations within the Current Regulatory Framework in Nigeria
Author’s Details: Emem Udoh-Institute of Corporate Law & Business Development Elizabeth C. Ogwo-Institute of Corporate Law & Business Development
Abstract:
The widespread use of digital currency as an alternative method of payment and an investment tool has led to a growing digital ecosystem over the years. The use of digital currency however has come with perceived threat to the financial sector. Governments around the world are behind the curve, continuing to wrestle with how to develop effective public policy measures to regulate its adoption and use. Thus, this paper will explore the current regulatory framework on digital currency in Nigeria, with major focus on ways these regulations can be strengthened
Keywords: Digital Currency, Cryptocurrency, Regulation
[Download Full Paper] [Page 36-41]
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