Africans Spend 40 billion Hrs In Search Of Water Annually-Don

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

Bad leadership, not corruption, tt is Nigeria’s and Africa’s critical problem, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Law, University of Ilorin, Dr. Mubarak Adekilekun, has said.

He said as a result of bad leadership more than 300 million Africans lack access to basic social amenities with most women spending 40billion hours in search of water annually.

Adekilekun spoke on Tuesday at the second Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali Media Rountable organised by the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in collaboration with the Time Nigeria and African Media Congress News Magazines,  held at NUJ press Center,  Ilorin.

Adekilekun whose lecture was entitled ‘’Social Justice and Redemption of Africa’’, identified bad leadership as the major threat to the attainment of social justice and social rights in Nigeria.

He said that rights to water, medical services, good road, and other basic necessities of life are not negotiable but need to be provided for by the government.

The business lawyer said the ‘‘40billion hours being spent annually in search of portable  water by Africans was equivalent to the total hours spent by the workforce in France ‘’.

The guest speaker blamed both political and religious leaders for the problem of Africa ,  and  emphasised the need to strengthen institutions in Nigeria rather than strengthening individuals for the country to achieve the desired goals.

He stressed  the need for good leaders that would make the continent become economically viable,  guarantee Socio-cultural economic freedom and integrity.

Also speaking, a discussant and former Head of Department of Mass Communication,  University of Ilorin, Barrister Mahmud AbdulRaheem,  called for re-orientation of political leaders and followers to fashion out what is good for the generality of the people.

AbdulRaheem, who cautioned Nigerians against self serving politicians, stressed the need to de-emphasise the distribution of commonwealth, and warned against undue influence for merit.

Another discussant,  Dr Lukman Azeez of the Department of Mass Communication,  University of Ilorin, said most of the Nigerian leaders emerged ‘‘by chance ’’ and as a result lacked the will to drive national development.

He however, called for a change of attitudes by followers lamenting that most of the ‘‘followers in Nigeria are absolutely passive’’.