By Paul Olayemi
Africa must move beyond political independence to achieve economic, intellectual and technological self-reliance by harnessing its resources, strengthening local institutions and reducing dependence on Western countries, Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Professor Sunny Ijirhevwe Awhefeada, has declared.
Awhefeada said the continent could not achieve meaningful development if it continued to depend on foreign nations for ideas, policies, economic direction and solutions to its challenges.
He spoke on Wednesday, November 11, while delivering the keynote address at the 27th Annual International Conference of the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE), hosted by Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Delta State.
The professor of African Literature challenged African leaders, academics and policymakers to redirect attention towards local capabilities, insisting that the continent must take ownership of its development rather than allow Western countries to determine its priorities.
“I want Africa to shut down. Shut down, meaning we should look inward. We should not allow Europe to think for us. We should not allow the West to think for us,” he said.
He maintained that Africa’s development would remain difficult without deliberate efforts to strengthen local production, reduce unnecessary imports and build an economy capable of meeting the needs of its people.
“Whatever we can produce, we should not import,” Awhefeada declared, arguing that genuine independence must include the ability to produce, innovate and determine the continent’s intellectual and economic direction.
Turning to the role of communication in national development, the vice-chancellor urged media practitioners and communication scholars to move beyond simply providing information and use their platforms to influence positive attitudes, shape public consciousness and encourage responsible actions.
“Communication informs. Let us deploy communication beyond informing us to influencing us. Communication should influence the way we think and the way we act,” he said.
He identified social media as an important instrument for mobilising citizens, demanding accountability and confronting injustice, recalling how digital platforms contributed to the Arab Spring and protests against corruption and government brutality.
However, he cautioned that the same platforms could become vehicles for misinformation, propaganda and the manipulation of public opinion if users failed to exercise responsibility.
Tracing the historical relationship between the media and Africa’s liberation struggles, Awhefeada argued that journalism played a central role in dismantling colonial rule across the continent.
“Without the media, there would not have been African independence,” he said, describing journalists of the nationalist movement as the “foot soldiers of nationalism”.
He cited prominent African nationalists, including Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo and Jomo Kenyatta, whose newspapers and political writings helped mobilise resistance against colonial domination.
The university administrator also recalled the dangers journalists faced under Nigeria’s military regimes, referencing the torture of Minere Amakiri, the government’s takeover of Daily Times in 1976 and the assassination of Dele Giwa through a parcel bomb in 1986.
He called for greater efforts to preserve African history, indigenous languages, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage through digital platforms, warning against the loss of the continent’s historical identity.
Meanwhile, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education and institutional development, stressing the importance of effective communication in strengthening governance and democratic accountability.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Johnbull Tonukari, who also chaired the occasion, described communication as essential to building relationships between governments and citizens and promoting cooperation among African countries.
Tonukari said truthful, inclusive and responsible communication remained critical to public confidence, democratic stability and peaceful coexistence, warning that misinformation and misleading political narratives could weaken institutions and deepen divisions.
On the state government’s interventions in tertiary education, he disclosed that contracts had been awarded for the construction of two hostels in each state-owned tertiary institution.
According to him, each hostel is expected to accommodate approximately 500 students, while the administration is also prioritising infrastructure development, staff welfare and regular payment of salaries in the institutions.
He further urged students and media professionals to create awareness about the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, describing it as an interest-free intervention designed to assist students with tuition and upkeep expenses.
The four-day conference, which began on November 10 and ends November 13, has the theme, “Communication, Politics and Intra-African Dialogue”.
Dignitaries at the event included the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Professor Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri; ACCE National President, Chief Andrew Orugbo; Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Bashir; the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM King Monday Obukohwo Whiskey, Udurhie I; and Chief Frank Emiko, who represented the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, HRM Noble Eshemitan, Orefe III.
Academics, communication experts, media practitioners, traditional rulers and students from Nigeria and other countries also participated in the conference.
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