Uzu Okagbue has reacted to the keynote address by Sir Paul Chukwuma on Friday during the hybrid international conference of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, describing it as both “fundamental” and “germane.” Speaking over the weekend, Okagbue said that Chukwuma’s take on the longstanding questions of development in Africa is an “elevated contribution to the ongoing conversation and a watershed in the old debate regarding Africa’s preferred development model.”
“Sir Paul Chukwuma didn’t just base his address on continental Africa, which might end up not addressing anything substantial. He brought his message home to Nigeria and further down to Anambra state, with specific key issues concerning governance and sustainable development. First of all, he took a critical look at all the available economic options, then, he proposed a homegrown approach that better reflect our realities. Next, he tasked us to look inward and draw from our strengths within to solve our problems. He further tasked academia to synergize with the wider society and proffer practical solutions to our problems. Every sustainable development has a base in research, knowledge, and innovation and the university is the home of research, knowledge, and innovation. This clearly demonstrates the immense depths of Sir Paul Chukwuma’s grasp of governance and sustainable development,” Uzu Okagbue said.
While delivering his keynote speech, Sir Paul Chukwuma emphasized that the problem of Nigeria’s federation is the sub-nationals. In this instance, he pointed to the level of insecurity in Anambra State and wondered why the government of the day could allow such to fester and yet expect to develop sustainably. Chukwuma also frowned at the method of tax collection by the present government of Anambra state in which many uniform-people harass and cajole businessmen and women in different Anambra cities, especially Onitsha. On local government mismanagement by state governors, Chukwuma regretted that the present government failed to keep its promise to conduct local government election, but is now trying to conduct a semblance of an election because the Federal Government is determined to ensure that the local government funds go to them from source. He also took a critical look at the manipulation of government institutions which the recent multiple amendments of Anambra Electoral Law 2024, demonstrate under the current Anambra government. Reacting to these issues, Uzu Okagbue said that these are critical good governance concerns, which the current Anambra State government has neglected, thereby highlighting major difficulties with the present administration in Anambra State.
Sir Paul Chukwuma’s keynote address has been received in many quarters as a serious and pragmatic contribution to the governance challenge in Anambra State, Nigeria, and Africa, in general.
Ebuka graduated with a second-class upper-division degree in Political Science from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Political Science with a specialization in Government and Development Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. His academic background and professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of political dynamics and governance issues.
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