Songhai Centre : developing African ideas for development for the African continent

newstyle · (#1 (**permalink**))

With a just a marshy patch of land near Porto Nova, Benin, father Nzamujo is attempting to redefine Africa's view of itself. He rejects the gloomy prognoses for Africa and says the continent is rich with resources.

Africans, he says, must recognise their own worth and understand the value of the resources around them to make the most of them.

His Songhai Centre is developing African ideas for development for the African continent. He is determined that no one outside should set the agenda, Africans know what's best for their continent, he declares. His centre now has other off-shoots in Benin and he is already attracting interest from other countries across Africa: a new centre has recently been set up in Nigeria. He's just back from a trip to South East Asia, fact finding and sharing his ideas with new partners in the Far East.

Does African development mean low-tech? No, according to Father Nzamujo. Interestingly, he is using solar powered internet to spread knowledge across the country. One of the reasons for Africa being left behind in the past has been a lack of infrastructure, whether linking them to the town down the road or to the rest of the world.

This technology, Father Nzamujo believes, will enable Africa to leapfrog centuries of development and become a player in the modern world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/afr...african4.shtml

Toloane · (#2 (**permalink**))

Toloane · (#3 (**permalink**))

whattechnology? checked out all the links and cannot find nothing other than men talking about technology.

maybe it's the "solar powered internet"? what's that?

he bought some solar panels from Europe or China and is using them to power his Japanese made equipment...

ridiculous...

BlazinShield · (#4 (**permalink**))

It is good to see optimism, however whilst it may be possible to develop faster than other regions, I am not sure that it is possible to 'leapfrog'. The Asian economies have grown because they built strong manufacturing industries from the ground up. Also the rise of China and India as superpowers will make competition increasingly tough. Competing with America, Europe and Asia means taking the raw materials and manufacturing the goods people want to buy around the world. It will also require the necessary transport infrastructure. This requires pan African government and private initiatives and millions of motivated people well trained in business, engineering and science. Many African graduates leave Africa in search of well paid jobs on other continents, rather than using their skills to develop Africa. Their absence also negatively impacts the development of craft and technician training as well as the education and training of the next generation of engineers, scientists and business people.

DSP · (#5 (**permalink**))

BlazinShield wrote:

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It is good to see optimism, however whilst it may be possible to develop faster than other regions, I am not sure that it is possible to 'leapfrog'. The Asian economies have grown because they built strong manufacturing industries from the ground up. Also the rise of China and India as superpowers will make competition increasingly tough. Competing with America, Europe and Asia means taking the raw materials and manufacturing the goods people want to buy around the world. It will also require the necessary transport infrastructure. This requires pan African government and private initiatives and millions of motivated people well trained in business, engineering and science. Many African graduates leave Africa in search of well paid jobs on other continents, rather than using their skills to develop Africa. Their absence also negatively impacts the development of craft and technician training as well as the education and training of the next generation of engineers, scientists and business people.

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I don't subscribe to this concept. Compete how with what? I say produce for ourselves, and trade among ourselves. That's one of our biggest problems we're following the worlds trends. Then again I maybe arguing a different point but I'm notone for this international globaltakeover of pure capitalism.

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