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University teachers from across Africa have blamed politicians for the frequent power interruptions in the continent, especially in West African nations, pointing out that military putsch was a consequence of unresolved grumbling in the polity.
The university dons at a sensitization meeting and symposium on development hosted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Ibadan, South-west Nigeria contended that politicians who stormed the barracks to lure the military to snatch power always encourage military interventions.
But the chairman of the Scientific Committee on the symposium, Prof. Mustapher Kasse, from Senegal hinted that the symposium was meant to create a window through which university teachers could act as the engine room for development in West Africa countries.
Kasse, former Dean, Faculty of Science at the University of Dakar, who spoke to newsmen after the scientific session regretted that politics rather than being an asset in West Africa has been turned into a liability due to the constant misbehaviors of politicians.
He pointed to the level of underdevelopment in West African countries, maintaining that politicians have plundered the resources of the countries such that there is grinding poverty in the sub continent.
Kasse stated that the seminar was put in place for intellectuals to assist policy makers in the sub region for capacity building. “It is put in place for the lecturers to tell us what they are doing. You know we are living in a knowledge-driven environment.
“We are providing a synergy between the academics and decision makers. We need to change our development and provide the missing link by being involved in research," he said.
He cited ignorance, diseases and poverty status as indices of underdevelopment and urged the academic community in the region to submit papers on how the region can make progress in the area of development.
University teachers from across Africa have blamed politicians for the frequent power interruptions in the continent, especially in West African nations, pointing out that military putsch was a consequence of unresolved grumbling in the polity.
The university dons at a sensitization meeting and symposium on development hosted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Ibadan, South-west Nigeria contended that politicians who stormed the barracks to lure the military to snatch power always encourage military interventions.
But the chairman of the Scientific Committee on the symposium, Prof. Mustapher Kasse, from Senegal hinted that the symposium was meant to create a window through which university teachers could act as the engine room for development in West Africa countries.
Kasse, former Dean, Faculty of Science at the University of Dakar, who spoke to newsmen after the scientific session regretted that politics rather than being an asset in West Africa has been turned into a liability due to the constant misbehaviors of politicians.
He pointed to the level of underdevelopment in West African countries, maintaining that politicians have plundered the resources of the countries such that there is grinding poverty in the sub continent.
Kasse stated that the seminar was put in place for intellectuals to assist policy makers in the sub region for capacity building. “It is put in place for the lecturers to tell us what they are doing. You know we are living in a knowledge-driven environment.
“We are providing a synergy between the academics and decision makers. We need to change our development and provide the missing link by being involved in research," he said.
He cited ignorance, diseases and poverty status as indices of underdevelopment and urged the academic community in the region to submit papers on how the region can make progress in the area of development.
