A week ago, we had a conversation with our lecturer and he spoke about how we Africans have developed the habit of doing away with our own culture and embracing the western culture and this was what transpired:
Course mate: What hurts most is using the European system of rules and laws to govern African societies.
Me: You’ve all presented your views articulately. Let’s not forget it will take us decades to attain this particular goal. One of the factors that is contributing to the downfall of Africa is lack of commitment. We Africans are not willing to commit to a cause. We are always looking for shortcuts and other means to get what we want without going through the right channels. Just as you are willing to commit, it is the same way someone is willing not to commit.
Until recently, young Africans are striving so hard to change that narrative.
Togetherness, commitment, willingness, putting Africa first above anything else, and the zeal to fight for the development of Africa is some of the ways we need to develop in ourselves IF we want to see Africa move from the state of periphery to a Core continent.
Lecturer: You are right, what then can you and I do to change this perspectives or narratives. The time is now, per your analysis, you are a game changer. Let move the aganda. For it is possible.
Me: Let’s narrow our thinking scope to Ghana. One thing I have observe is that, we are always waiting for someone to start and pave the way before we rally behind them. What I think we can do is to get likeminded individuals. People with the zeal to strive towards the betterment of Ghana.
Let’s look at this scenario: a single person starts a campaign and is able to reach two people a day and ten people starting the same campaign. What do you think will be the outcome?
Instead of waiting for a single person to start before we all join, why not we all start at once and see the magnitude at which the message wil reach.
Lecturer: Great observation and projections. You are right, to bring like-minded people is through conscientization. If we all sprang up with different ideologies it might be difficult. Advocacy and sensitization will help us to achieve this purpose. Accordingly, you know development education becomes the collective approach under which advocacy and sensitization strive for this purpose. Fast forward, the onus lies on you and I again as development educators to propagate this discourse. The battle is on us. Is still possible though.
African will only develop if we change our mindset and also our educational system from theoretical aspect to that of vocational and technical education.
