By Taiwo Scholarstica
Former Chief of Staff to late Pres. Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Diplomat Moudjib Djinadou, and a university lecturer, Dimas Garba, have called on African leaders and citizens to embrace self-renewal as a pathway to the continent’s development.
They made the call on Tuesday at the launch of Renegade Africa: All it Takes to Be African, authored by Djinadou, a former United Nations official and founder of the Itumo Institute, held at the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, Utako, Abuja.
The speakers expressed concern that despite Africa’s vast human and natural resources, the continent continues to face economic, security, and social challenges. They argued that repeated dependence on foreign governance and economic models has not delivered the expected progress.
Chairman of the event, Prof. Gambari, said Africa’s development would only be sustainable if policies and institutions reflect its historical realities and cultural foundations. He noted that African societies have often copied external systems without adapting them to local needs, leading to weak outcomes.
According to him, Africa must define itself rather than depend on external narratives. He stressed that indigenous systems of governance, built on consultation and consensus, should be revisited and strengthened. He also warned that continued reliance on exporting raw materials while importing finished goods limits economic growth and value creation.
Djinadou, the author, said Africa’s challenges stem largely from the neglect of its own knowledge systems. He explained that after decades of reforms, including structural adjustment programmes and democratic experiments, results have remained limited because solutions are often sought outside the continent.
He identified the education system as a key issue, saying it encourages the consumption of foreign ideas rather than the development of local solutions. He added that Africa must reconnect with its cultural and historical roots to move forward.
Garba, the book reviewer, said the work highlights how Africa gradually abandoned its traditional systems in favour of Western models. He traced this shift to early contact with external powers and noted that the acceptance of foreign systems has become deeply internalised.
He said the book is structured around Africa’s social diagnosis, historical influences, and the need to rebuild governance, economy, and education systems based on local realities.
The speakers agreed that Africa’s future depends on its ability to rediscover its identity, strengthen local institutions, and invest in its people, especially its youth.