AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: A NEW PARADIGM SHIFT IN LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE MENTORSHIP IN AFRICA Judah Ndiku. [email protected], Pamella Buhere [email protected], Christopher Omusula [email protected], Aaliva Luvaso, [email protected], Lorna Nakera, [email protected]Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology Abstract A number of political scientists point out that the concepts of democracy and governance are interrelated, but are not the same. They indicate that "good governance entails the efficient and effective reciprocity between desired rulers and the ruled. They point out that it incumbent upon governments to be responsive to the citizenry. Majoritarian democracy, on the other hand, entails a broad consensus on values and procedures, the participation in the selection of the ruling elites and the accountability of leadership to the electorate. The last decade has witnessed Africa face a number of challenges that are significantly related to the quality of its rulers who form the governments. Dictatorial tendencies of the governments of Africa have inherently propagated both extreme poverty of the mind and material consequently promoting ignorance and disease related challenges that dot the continent. Leading scholars have identified some of the major reasons for poor governance and bad politics in African countries as exclusion of the youth in governance, octogenarian nature of the rulers, the state failure to advance and protect human rights, the tendency of highly qualified and talented individuals to withdraw from politics and the extreme centralization of power and wealth in the hands of few people. They also point out that democracy in Africa has been badly hindered by the state's control of the economy; this has meant that the only way to get rich has been through political office, intensifying the problem of corruption, and inducing leaders to cling to political power. This has been disastrous for the economies of African countries. Thus, social economic liberalization and empowering ordinary producers and workers may well be achieved through nurturing the youth of Africa for future leadership positions. This paper examines the
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AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: A NEW PARADIGM SHIFT IN
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
AbstractA number of political scientists point out that the concepts of democracy and governance are interrelated, but are not the same. They indicate that "good governance entails the efficient and effective reciprocity between desired rulers and the ruled. They point out that it incumbent upon governments to be responsive to the citizenry. Majoritarian democracy, on the other hand, entails a broad consensus on values and procedures, the participation in the selection of the ruling elites and the accountability of leadership to the electorate. The last decade has witnessed Africa face a number of challenges that are significantly related to the quality of its rulers who form the governments. Dictatorial tendencies of the governments of Africa have inherently propagated both extreme poverty of the mind and material consequently promoting ignorance and disease related challenges that dot the continent. Leading scholars have identified some of the major reasons for poor governance and bad politics in African countries as exclusion of the youth in governance, octogenarian nature of the rulers, the state failure to advance and protect human rights, the tendency of highly qualified and talented individuals to withdraw from politics and the extreme centralization of power and wealth in the hands of few people. They also point out that democracy in Africa has been badly hindered by the state's control of the economy; this has meant that the only way to get rich has been through political office, intensifying the problem of corruption, and inducing leaders to cling to political power. This has been disastrous for the economies of African countries. Thus, social economic liberalization and empowering ordinary producers and workers may well be achieved through nurturing the youth of Africa for future leadership positions. This paper examines the power of investing in homogeneity and leadership education in African youth as an impetus to a new paradigm shift in leadership and governance in continent. The paper argues that when African youth are assured of survival and health, provided with a good quality leadership education, protected from war and violence, allowed to participate in the democracy and development of their mother countries, then Africa has immense resources to claim her position in the economies of the 21st century.
i. The Founding of leadership training institutes similar to that of African Leadership Academy
model that seeks to create leadership incubators for lasting peace and prosperity in Africa by
developing and connecting the continent’s future leaders. Africa’s greatest need is ethical and
entrepreneurial leadership. Too often, investment is done in addressing the symptoms of poor
leadership in Africa. Donors give blankets, food, and medicine to those impacted by war, poverty
and famine. These efforts will never solve the continents problems unless Africa develops leaders
who prevent wars, entrepreneurs who create jobs and innovators that develop lasting solutions to
the root causes of Africa’s problems.
ii. Policies that can guide the way identification of the talented youth develop and connect them as
future leaders. This should be done with a focus on ensuring that Africa’s young leaders return to
build their careers and provide a lifetime leadership to the African continent. This will ensure
continues application of mindset, approach, skills and networks developed at the model
academies with a hope of solving the continent’s greatest challenges.
iii. Governments of Africa should found a common Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum
developed by Nobel Prize foundations as a cornerstone of the student experience that creates
opportunities to practice leadership and entrepreneurship skills through simulation and project-
based learning. In the interdisciplinary African studies curriculum, students should study hunger
eradication, health care provision, economic growth and conflict resolutions.
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