Okebukola blames poor governance and resource mismanagement for Africa’s underdevelopment
A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has attributed the underdevelopment of many African countries to poor governance and mismanagement of resources.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun State, Okebukola said that although Africa is rich in natural resources, the continent continues to suffer due to the failure of its leaders to manage these resources effectively.
“When leaders fail to properly manage their countries’ resources, they allow foreign corporations or governments to exploit them, perpetuating a narrative that African countries need external forces to thrive,” he stated.
He added that widespread corruption among some African leaders has led to a loss of trust in government, economic instability, and slow development across the continent.
According to Okebukola, this situation has reinforced the perception that African leadership is incapable of driving meaningful progress, which in turn fosters a sense of hopelessness and inferiority among the populace.
He emphasized that corruption and poor governance are key indicators of economic underdevelopment, social inequality, and political instability.
Using Nigeria as an example, Okebukola pointed out that despite being one of the world’s top oil producers, the country continues to grapple with corruption—especially in its oil sector—resulting in significant losses of government revenue that could otherwise be used for national development.
