Nelson Mandela Day: ‘Africa can’t grow with dependence on foreign theories’
A research associate professor at the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos, IADS-UNILAG, Dr. Kayode Eesuola, has said African growth and development would remain a wish if the continent continued to depend on foreign theories to address her issues.
Eesuola made the point at the 2023 commemoration of Nelson Mandela Day, and the 3rd edition of the UMOJA African Students Leadership Network Summit, held on the theme “Making more Mandelas”, organised by UNILAG in partnership with the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria, EWAN.
Speaking at the event held at the Arthur Mbanefo Research Centre, UNILAG, Eesuola said: “For us to make more Mandelas, we must do these: engage in conversation such as we are having in this summit, discontinue the dependence on foreign theories and the youths must look inwards and tap into our resources.
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“We must recognise those things in Africa that we can be proud to compete with.”
Speaking at the event, the host of and Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, noted that making more Mandelas entailed reflecting on the nature of the freedom icon of honesty, love for humanity and unity, among others.
Represented by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof Musa Obalola, the VC said: “This event makes us reflect on the impacts of the life of Nelson Mandela. So, our take home is to see how we implement those values he stood for.”
For the representative of South Africa, the Deputy-Political Consul General of the South African Consulate in Lagos, Busisiwe Dlamini, the continent of Africa must unite and imbibe the virtues of Mandela to move forward.
On his part, Chairman of EWAN, Mojeed said African leaders must shun the quest for materialism and invest more in education. By doing so, he said, more selfless leaders such as Mandela will be made.
He said: “We are celebrating Nelson Mandela for who he was and is, as his values live on. Mandela never looked for fame as today’s leaders have continued to pursue power and materialism.
“So our message is, for us to achieve anything in Africa we must revamp and invest in the education sector.”
Meanwhile, students from institutions from South Africa and UNILAG, in a panel session, called on the youths in the continent to recognise themselves as first Africans and not be Eurocentric.
The advocated more involvement in the political space; on the leaders, the students called for better investment in the education sector and creating spaces for youth engagement.
Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday.
The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010.