Education Crisis in Africa reflects chronic leadership failure

The education crisis in Africa reflects chronic leadership failure. A colossal endemic deficit which requires homegrown solutions, new thinking and totally different mindset. This calamity, i.e. Profound Leadership Failure may indeed be the greatest impediment to the ascent of these nations from the bottom of the human ladder of development. The education crisis resulting in alarming knowledge deficit is one of the most heart-wrenching features of the populations in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa.

In June 2007, Pan Africa Children Advocacy Watch (PACAW), Inc., a non-profit organization headquartered in Maryland, USA was founded by Dr. Sylvanus Adetokunboh Ayeni, a Neurosurgeon in the USA who was born and raised in Nigeria. The goal of PACAW, Inc. is to help, in its own humble way, with predominantly homegrown solutions for this monumental problem facing the failing nations of Africa especially Sub-Saharan Africa.

The main purpose of PACAW, Inc. is to add a voice to the search for solutions for the huge problems facing Nigeria and the nations of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is an attempt to address these very complex problems at their root. Our focus is on the education of children from Kindergarten to High School in the poorest communities.

Clearly, in many of these nations, the problems cannot be blamed on two things.

1.  Lack of available money to the leaders from both domestic and foreign sources.

2. Lack of natural resources or human resources.

Indeed, Africa is over-blessed with more than sufficient human resources and enormous natural resources. It is also the 'youngest' continent on the planet -- in average or median age of the populations.

So, what is the problem? Or maybe one should ask: what are the problems?

We believe there are four fundamental issues at play in these poor performing African nations.

1. Failure of Mindset especially at the leadership level. The "Cannot Do" Mindset and dependency on other segments of the human race must be replaced with a "Can Do" Mindset.

2. The mammoth Corruption and Self-Centeredness particularly at the leadership level must abate.

3. Public safety must be prioritized by the leaders.

4. The profound deficits in infrastructure and knowledge require very urgent attention by the leaders.

 We have made leadership training through the Biennial Leadership Academy (depending on funding), a component of our programs. PACAW, Inc. believes strongly in public education. So, we do not set up private schools. We go to the poor and most neglected village/community and resuscitate the dilapidated public schools. We do this by providing infrastructure, staff, books, equipments like photocopy machines and other support systems.

Hopefully, from these children would emerge a new generation of leaders that will solve Africa's development crisis. Without quality education at all levels, i.e. basic, secondary and tertiary, the leadership crisis and consequently the maldevelopment in these nations would never be solved.

Our long term goal, as we pray earnestly and wait for assistance from individuals and/or entities with the financial means, is to establish a kind of Lyceum. This would be an institution where scores, hundreds and hopefully eventually, thousands of young Africans would come and spend at least one academic year to learn, ruminate and be mentored by selected individuals who care deeply about the fate of Africa. 

Thanks for visiting. Your interest and support are greatly appreciated. 
 

OCTOBER 5, 2024.

INAUGURAL SENIOR HIGH SCOOL “ESSAY” COMPETITION IN NIGERIA, 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR.

SPONSORS: Pan Africa Children Advocacy Watch (PACAW, Inc.) based in Maryland, USA and Olise - Omolu Foundation (OOF) based in Lagos.

PURPOSE: To contribute our “widow's mite” to the development of a new generation of selfless and committed future leaders who will lift Nigeria from it’s self inflicted abysmal state of affairs and redirect its course so that it can attain its true potential. For Nigeria to achieve her God-given potential, the next generation of leaders must have a completely different mindset. A mindset of NATION FIRST. It is in that vein that we are starting the yearly Senior High School “Essay” Competition.

STUDY MATERIAL FOR THE “ESSAY” COMPETITION
This study material is a short biography of a person who has demonstrated in his life, genuine love for Africa and even laid down his life for Africans. For this inaugural competition, we have gladly chosen the life of the Scottish Physician, Missionary, Explorer and slave abolitionist, Dr David Livingstone. The biography will be about four pages. We believe his type of selfless spirit and leadership mindset of service and sacrifice for Africans is the best example for future leaders of Nigeria and other African nations to study and emulate.

WHAT THE STUDENTS SHOULD DO
The students are required to answer three questions based on the biography.
We expect each student to read the biography intensely several times. Then, the student should answer the questions honestly by himself or herself “from the “heart”.
Please submit your answers (essays) to your Principal latest by Friday, November 29, 2024.

A team of judges put together by PACAW, Inc. and OOF will grade the essays.
There will be 1st prize, 2nd prize, 3rd prize, and four consolation prizes in each state (NOT IN EACH SCHOOL, BUT IN EACH STATE). We estimate a maximum of 150 students in each state for this inaugural edition.
Although we are awarding prizes, that is not our main goal. In fact, the prizes are the least important elements of this endeavour. The most important reason for this “Essay” Competition is to mentor our young men and women, and engender in them love of nation more than self, and a totally different type of MINDSET urgently needed to rescue Nigeria.

THE FULL TEXT OF Dr. LIVINGSTONE's BIOGRAPHY CAN BE FOUND IN THE "WHAT WE DO " AND "NEWS AND PUBLICATION" PAGES.

APRIL 2024.

UPDATE ON THE 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR INAUGURAL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY COMPETITION IN NIGERIA.

THE BOARD OF PACAW Inc. has been meeting approximately biweekly with Mr. Sunday Omolu, president of Olise-Omolu foundation, headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria to plan the inaugural Senior High School essay competition in Nigeria. Our goal is to begin this essay competition in six states in Nigeria. So far, we have identified and contacted heads of senior high schools in three states,. viz. Lagos, Delta and Kwara states. The fourth state we have identified is Kogi state and we will contact the education officials in the state very soon ti inform them about the project.

We will keep you posted as the structure of the project takes shape.
Your support for the essay competition and our other projects would be greatly appreciated.

JANUARY 2024.

INAUGURATION OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY COMPETITION IN SEVERAL STATES IN NIGERIA.

Beginning in the 2024 school year which starts in September, PACAW will launch an annual multi State high school essay competition in Nigeria for Senior high school students. This endeavour will be in collaboration with our partner: OLISE OMOLU FOUNDATION; https://www.oliseomolu.com

The main purpose is to get Nigerian youths to think differently about who they are, their innate capabilities, the meaning and purpose of life, their responsibilities not only to their families, friends, village or town of origin and state, but ultimately, their responsibility to their nation and Africa at large. Furthermore to get them to develop a “Can Do” mindset instead of waiting for Foreign Aid from Europe, USA, Canada and Asia. Also, to embrace the spirit of selflessness, INCORRUPTIBILITY and nation building.

We believe very strongly that this step is pivotal in the future turning around of Nigeria's hitherto and current unsustainable self destructive proclivities powered by mammoth corruption and self centeredness of the leadership and profound failure of mindset.

We are seeking donations and sponsorships from individuals and corporations for this project. Your support is much needed and would be greatly appreciated.

We are also seeking funding for two additional projects.

1. To build science laboratories in two public high schools run by State and local governments. Many public high schools in Nigeria have sadly been totally neglected by the leaders. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT IS VERY CLOSE AND DEAR TO MY (S. A. AYENI's) HEART. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO MUCH MORE ON THIS IN MY WRITINGS AND SPEECHES.

2. Leveling --Grading -- (better still, tarring) the road that connects a remote village where PACAW operates in Kwara state to the neighboring town. The road is simply awful, impassable even by Nigeria's very unfortunate ignoble low standards of transportation infrastructure. The sub-human condition of this road has significantly hampered the ability of the village to retain teachers for its primary and secondary schools for decades.

YOUR GENEROSITY WILL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

This article was published in the platform, Medium.com on Oct 3, 2022

Why President Biden’s White House Should Cancel The December 13–15, 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

One of the most impactful African policy decisions President Biden’s administration can and should make is to cancel the December 13–15, 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

Moving ahead with the Summit will:

a. Reveal a lack of understanding of the fundamental issues regarding failure of poverty alleviation by foreign benefactors in several failed States in Africa.

b. Clearly demonstrate failure of the Biden Administration to learn from the failure of the efforts of former Administrations who used a similar playbook.

c. Demonstrate indifference to the unrelenting pain, suffering and injustice imposed on the majority — the forlorn figures — in the continent by the oligarchs, dictators and kleptocrats.

d. Unwittingly preserve the participation of the United States in this carousel of fruitless “triangular” Africa head of States regular or periodic summits in Washington DC, Beijing and New Delhi.

Deja Vu

From August 4–6, 2014, during President Obama’s Administration, the US — Africa Summit took place in Washington, DC. Forty-five heads of African nations accompanied by scores of entourage participated in the Summit.

The August 4 “Signature events” included Investing in Women, Peace and Prosperity, Investing in Health, Investing in Africa’s Future, Resilience and Food Security in a Changing Climate and Combatting Wildlife Trafficking.

My goodness; what a mouthfull to chew on in one day, let alone digest, comprehend, conceptualize and then activate — a tall order indeed even for the truly committed.

Apart from improvement in women participation in politics and public service in several nations in Africa, (And it would be awfully hard for the Summit to claim credit for this trend) no fruits have sprouted from the other items in the “Signature Events”.

The August 6 sessions included one that was “focussed on how to enhance governance in order to deliver services to citizens, attract and prepare for increased domestic and foreign direct investment, manage transnational threats and stem the flow of illicit finance”.

Whoa !!! Just a few hours in a conference hall in Washington, DC to accomplish all of the above?

In the eight years since the summit was held, just look at the trajectory of all basic indices of development in African nations. The paucity of clean running water, reliable electricity supply, infrastructure, public safety, agriculture, viable healthcare systems, honest governance and conflict resolution etc. Progress in these critical areas is few and far between if at all.

In the past three years, there have been six coup d’etats in Africa. In Mali, Guinea, Chad, Sudan and twice so far this year in Burkino Fasso. And in March 2021, there was a failed coup attempt in Niger.

Should anything more be said about the unworthiness of these Summits?

CONTEMPORARY AFRICA’S DANCE WITH THE EAST

The India-Africa Forum Summit was started by former Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in 2008. The third summit of the forum was held in New Delhi from October 29–30, 2015. Fifty-four sovereign African nations were represented, forty-one of them by their heads of State and their entourage.

The first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) took place in Beijin, China in 2000. Since then, China’s footprint in Africa is gargantuan. “China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants Are Building a New Empire in Africa” is the title of Howard French’s 2014 book. It speaks volumes about the profundity of the negative consequences of leadership failure in Africa.

Despite the frequent flights unto the wings of “saviors” in search of the golden goose for development from outside her precious 1.3 billion African brains, Africa remains firmly planted at the basement of human development.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN’S WHITE HOUSE

At some point, sooner or later, a new crop of African leaders will stop this demeaning and disgraceful packing of the bags of heads of States of an entire continent to meet with officials of a single country, no matter how powerful that country is.

Do the heads of States of other continents with multiple nations; South America, North America, Europe or Asia engage in this type of pathetic low expectation behavior?

Real friends of Africa who wish well the hundreds of millions in the continent trapped in grinding poverty should tell African leaders to get to work. They should be told to apply their bottoms to the chairs in their homeland and “Rescue Themselves” using that most precious gift of nature — their own brains.

The way to strengthen ties with Africa is not to encourage their leaders to spend tens, maybe hundreds of millions of dollars for a three day photo-up and shopping in Washington, DC. Money which they don’t really have and if at all they do, should be better spent on fixing the monumental deficits they face at home.

Also of note is the fact that these African heads of States and their entourage have just spent millions of dollars to attend the 77th session of United Nations General Assembly in New York City from September 13–27, 2022.

African leaders must be told emphatically to own the circumstances of their nations, own the solutions and commit their natural and human resources to change the miserable circumstances for the better FROM WITHIN.

Your feedback, positive or critical is welcome.

Sylvanus A. AYENI, M.D. 

President & Founder, PACAW, Inc.