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Shein exhorts scholars to uphold Pan-African dream
2006-07-14 09:03:03
By Special Correspondent, Brazil
The current crop of African scholars must descend from their intellectual ivory towers and participate more meaningfully in the continent’s socio-economic development.
Dr Shein made the remarks at the second African scholars’ meeting in Salvador in Bahia, Brazil.
Shein said that scholars from Africa, among them the Tanzania’s founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Nelson Mandela of South Africa in collaboration with African scholars in diaspora fought for the freedom and unity of Africa.
The VP said the current crop of African scholars have the onus task of paving the way for Africa to participate more actively in globalisation.
’’African scholars both at home and in diaspora must build on the achievements of the past generation of African leaders who mooted the Organisation of African Union (OAU),’’ he said.
He told them to look at Africa as a single entity rather than a multiplicity of states that are in constant state of flux.
’’African scholars at home and in diaspora must find ways and means of how that unity can be strengthened,’’ he noted.
Speaking at the meeting, Brazilian President Ruiz Ignacio ’’Lula’’ da Silva said although his country was among the third world countries, it will give priority to Africa’s economic development.
He said for the African countries do develop further, it was important for the countries to invest in education.
’’I believe this is how African countries and other developing countries can speed up their economic development,’’ he noted.
Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade promised to provide direct air link between Senegal and Brazil as one way of expanding closer co-operation with African intellectuals abroad.
Brazil has the highest population of Black people with African ancestry followed by the United States.
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said intellectuals living in diaspora have a duty to contribute to the development of Africa.
She said Africa’s underdevelopment was exacerbated by many centuries of slave trade and persecution of the black race.
The objective of the three-day conference was to review ways and means in which scholars in Africa and abroad can contribute to the continent’s economic growth.
The conference is expected to adopt the Salvador Declaration, which among other things calls for improved collaboration among scholars from Africa.
The other heads of state who attended the conference were Presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana, John Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana, Marcius Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Pedros Pires of Cape Verde and the Chairman of the Commission for African Union Alpha Konare.
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