Political culture in Africa needs a change, says Ezekwesili

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Education Minister, has called for a new political culture in Africa that would prioritise the common good over selfish interests. She made this call at the matriculation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) for the 2023–2024 session in Abuja on Friday.

She lamented that the current political culture in Africa was detrimental to the development of the continent. She said that her motivation for establishing the school was to find solutions to the challenges of politics and the economy in Nigeria.

She explained that the school aimed to produce a new generation of leaders who would challenge the status quo and bring positive change to the political and governance processes.

She said that the existing political class was characterised by low-quality leadership that could not deliver anything of value to the people. She said that young people and technology were the key drivers of Africa’s progress, but they were hindered by poor politics and governance.

She urged the students to be agents of change and to have a mindset of service to the country and the people at all levels.

She said that they were not just angry about the situation, but they were also competent and creative in designing solutions. She said that they had to be purposeful and intentional in their actions.