A Professor of History and International Relations, Okpeh Okpeh, has called for the revival of spirit of pan-Africanism imbibed during the pre-colonial era to conquer racial discrimination confronting Africans globally.
Okpeh, of the Federal University, Lafia, made the call on Thursday at an international conference organised by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC).
The theme of the conference, held at Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, was “Racism, Racial Inequality and the Struggles of the Global Africa for Survival in the 21st Century.
He also called for the strengthening of the bond of solidarity among African countries and Africans in the Diaspora to ensure African identity took its pride of place.
He noted that Africans were well bonded during the pre-colonial era, but such had been eroded due to the negative effects of colonisation.
“The first step towards dealing with racial inequality issues is to reawaken the spirit of Pan-Africanism, which was present during the pre-colonial era and got eroded after the colonisation of Africa countries.
“To achieve this, we need leaders that are purposeful, focused and have some sense of humanity to pull Africa out of the problem of identity issues, likewise racial discrimination.
“We must take pride in our identity as a race, Africa is indispensable, the world cannot do without Africans and we must work with this consciousness,” the don said.
Also, Prof. Abdulkarim Bangura of the Centre for Global Peace, Washington DC, advised African leaders to intensify efforts in exploring the enormous potential in the continent for economic growth.
Bangura said that Africa was still backward among other continents of the world because their enormous human capital and other resources had not been fully tapped.
He called on African leaders to take the up the responsibility of establishing a union of African states which, he said, was long overdue.
“Africa does not need the rest of the world, the world needs Africa, we are not poor, we have the needed resources to make us rule the world, we also need to get our leaders to work.
“Africa is going through problems of racism and all, not because we are poor but it is because we have not been able to tap fully from our enormous potential,” he said.
Similarly, Dr David Imbua of the Department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, urged Africans to synergise and work harmoniously to achieve common goals.
Imbua called for the implementation of the Senate’s resolution of Oct. 25, 2016 that Pan-Africanism be included in schools’ curriculum to inculcate Pan-Africanism spirit in the youths.
“The Senate’s proposal that the African Union should set aside a day for the celebration of Pan-Africanists in order to keep their dreams of Africa alive is a step in the right direction.
“We need to go back to that period when Africans think the same, let us form a strong indivisible bond so that Africans can begin to look at themselves as a united force,” Imbua said.
Prof. Eugenia George-Genyi, Department of Political Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, identified leadership recruitment as a major problem confronting Africa.
“Africa has the population, market and human capital resources to lead the world but the problem has been putting the wrong leaders at the helm of affairs.
“We must work on appointing appropriate leaders, we need committed and conscious leadership,” she said.
Earlier, Mrs Oluwabunmi Amao, CBAAC Director-General, noted that the centre would continue to collaborate with allied institutions to promote the interest of black people all over the globe.
“We have commenced discussions to collaborate with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) on programmes that would effectively recognise and promote the dignity of the black man globally,” Amao said.