Africa Initiative to present speaker on Nigerian politics

The Africa Initiative of Syracuse University will present its fall lecture on Friday, Oct. 22, featuring visiting guest speaker Efemini Andrew from the Department of Philosophy at the University of Port Harcourt. His speech, “The Politics of Nigeria and the Development of the Niger Delta Region,” will begin at 3 p.m. in Sims Hall, room 319 and will address a variety of issues integral to the progress of Nigeria. He argues that political discussions about Nigeria must include a historical framework that recognizes the colonial roots of Nigeria’s challenges.

Andrew states, “The post-colonial politics of Nigeria has been anything but democratic, which leaves the ordinary people living with war-like politics that relegates development to the background.”

Andrew also proclaims the Niger Delta region to be one of the world’s most volatile and crisis-prone areas. The region is caught between a contradictory state of riches and poverty due to disposition of the Nigerian state. Andrew believes that in order to address the crisis development issues in the Niger Delta, there must be a democratization process that is upheld, supported and elevated. Furthermore, he believes that the ordinary people must be the driving force behind this democratization. During his presentation, Andrew will seek to answer the pivotal question, “Does Nigeria’s 2011 election hold hope for realizing the objectives of development for Nigeria and the Niger Delta?”

Contact Chene Redwood for more information, at crredwoo@syr.edu or (315) 491-2418.