Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Pan-African Dialogue Institute has called for a curriculum review and upgrade in all levels of education to include pan-African studies with key attention on collective black history.
It added that a people that fail to embrace their history and heritage are doomed, and to set the ball rolling, individuals and institutions will be trained in workshops and institutions of higher learning to acquire certificate, executive or post-graduate courses in the field.
Also, it has concluded plans to sponsor a bill at the National Assembly as a proposal towards setting aside May 25 of every year to be observed and commemorated as the International Africa Day.
Pan-Africanist and President of the Institute, Dr. Effing Udo, who stated this in Abuja during a briefing to reel out plans for the first ever celebrated International Africa Day and the unveiling of its headquarters at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the problems militating against Africa needs solutions from the continent and not outside of it.
He reiterated the need for the decolonisation of the minds and thought patterns of Nigerians, and by extension, Africans, who have continued to believe in the superiority of other races compared to that of the African race.
According to him, “Curriculum review to include Pan-African Studies in our schools, starting from the basic level is long overdue. There’s no substitute for this. I am not happy that my country appears to have failed by not paying attention to our history and it feels like a struggle in trying to bring back our history. Check and you will hardly see studies on Pan-Africanism in our curriculum.
“A people that fail to embrace their history are doomed. Pan-Africanism is an interdisciplinary thing, and we have to make sure that it is included in our curriculum. But before we do that, we need to train ourselves through programmes ranging from executive, workshops, certificates or post-graduate courses. With this, there’s no way knowledge about it will not spread.
“We will also sponsor a bill in the National Assembly for Nigeria to set aside May 25 every year to celebrate the International Africa Day. We cannot call ourselves the giant of Africa yet we are not leading the rest of the African countries for the genuine freedom of our countries. We have to champion this cause.”
At the programme, foremost Pan Africanist and academic, Prof. Patrice Lumumba, is expected to be the keynote speaker. Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be the chairman of the occasion, while the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, is expected to serve as the chief host.
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