Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute's Samuel Oloruntoba's perspective on Africa
OLORUNTOBA Short Bio
Samuel John Oloruntoba is a Department of Science and
Technology National Research Foundation of South Africa rated Researcher and Senior
Lecturer at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute, University of South
Africa, Pretoria South Africa. He obtained his PhD in Political Science with specialization
in International Political Economy of Trade from the university of Lagos, Nigeria.
He was previously a Visiting Scholar at the program of African Studies,
Northwestern University Evanston and a Fellow OF Brown International Advanced
Research Institute, Brown University, Rhode Island, United States of America.
He has published in journal and contributed to book chapters both locally and
abroad. Oloruntoba is the author of Regionalism and Integration in Africa
EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements and Euro-Nigeria Relations, published by
Palgrave Macmillan, New York, United States of America in 2016 and a co-edited
book on Regenerating Africa: Bringing African Solutions to African Problems,
AISA, South Africa, 2016... He is also the co-editor with Toyin Falola of Palgrave
Handbook on African Politics, Governance and Development. His research
interests include: African Political Economy, Resource Governance, Global
Governance of Trade and Finance, Democracy and Development and Euro-African
Relations. Oloruntoba was the recipient of Wangari Msathai Award for Innovative
Research Leadership at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA, in 2016.
Hello,
welcome, and please introduce yourself and what you do ?
My name is Samuel Oloruntoba. I hold PhD in Political Science from
University of Lagos, Nigeria. I am a rated Researcher and Senior Lecturer at
the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute, University of South Africa, where
I teach courses in African Political Economy and Theories of International
Trade.
· What
are your thoughts on the negative narrative about Africa?
The negative narrative about Africa is a continuation of the racist
propaganda, which the colonialists used to justify their invasion of Africa.
Such narratives feed into the mindset that consider Africa as a dark continent.
The West control the global media industry and this is used to propagate the
racist news, which most times are not reflective of the real situation on the
ground on the continent. Great things are happening in different parts of the
continent, in terms of innovation, education and social interventions by
various actors. But these are hardly ever reported. Africa needs its own media industry which
should be focused on recreating the narrative about Africa
· If
you were to change anything African history, what would that be?
I will like to change the distorted notion that Africa had no
history as well as the narrative that Africa has always been a victim. I will
let the world know that Africa had history of heroic victories over assault
from global imperial powers, a clear example being the Adwa victory of 1896, in
which Ethiopian army defeated the invading Italian forces.
· What
is your opinion regarding the current condition in Africa with regards to
politics, economics, socio-cultural and religious issues. What would you
propose as a solution?
The current socio-economic and political situations in Africa present
both upsides and downturns. At the upside, countries are carrying out reforms
that can further help to increase the public good. Various innovation hubs are
also being established to drive innovation across the continent. Also, African
entrepreneurs are making giant strides across the continent. However,
challenges remain in terms of how to translate economic growth to improvement
in the living standards of the majority of the people. There are religious
extremities across the continent, which need to be controlled in order to
ensure security and political stability.
· In
one word or sentence, what would you say is the solution to the problems in
Africa?
Africa needs a new form of knowledge that is grounded in
self-confidence and self-reliance as well as values of integrity, productivity
and progressive imagination.
· From
the wealth of knowledge and experience you have in terms of career and life
generally, what would be your advice to African youth as an inspiration and
motivation?
African youth should pursue after knowledge, innovate and engage in
the political process. They should shun crass pursuit after materialism and
re-define their value systems in such a way that they can chart a new course
for the socio-economic and political governance architecture on the continent.
They should canvass for a better Africa through social activism and mobilization of the rest of the society.
· Please,
tell us about an encounter in the course of your career you would never
I have had various unique experiences in the course of my career.
The most profound was when I was a Visiting Scholar at the Programme of African
Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America.
I got access to books and Professors that sharpen my professional expertise.
· What
kind of Africa do you envisage in 100 years to come?
I envisage a self-reliant, prosperous and stable Africa. This will require
building technologically oriented society that is strong in military hardware
as well as human security. This is possible because Africa has what is needed
both in terms of human and material resources.
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