Bolstering African strategy for sustainable development and its diaspora’s influence on African development renaissance

ABSTRACT

African diaspora can be a potent force for development in Africa through the promotion of trade, investments, research, innovation, knowledge and technology transfers. Billions in African diaspora savings could bolster growth in Africa. For example, if one in every 10 members of the diaspora could be persuaded to invest $1000 in his or her country of origin, Africa could raise $3 billion a year for development financing. This paper delves into one of the approaches via which sustainable development can be achieved across Africa. It identifies that the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) will play a significant role in attaining this goal. In addition, recognizing that so much of Africa’s brainpower is found ‘off-shore’, NEPAD has made a start in bringing resources to bear on African Development. Nonetheless, the study observed that lack of patriotic leadership has been a major challenge towards sustainable development in Africa. The study views Diaspora’s alignment with NEPAD as the pivot for fresh partnership between Africa and the world beacons on the international community, especially the emerging economies such as China, to help bridge the development gap that has widened over the years of unequal relations; to achieve Africa’s development renaissance.

KEYWORDS:

• African diaspora
• partnership
• NEPAD
• development financing
• development renaissance

Disclosure statement

No, conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. African Diaspora- Friends of African Union, 2019. https://friendsoftheafricanunion.com/african-diaspora/.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Emmanuel Chidiebere Edeh

Emmanuel Chidiebere Edeh, is currently a PhD student at Northwest University of China. As a young researcher with a revolutionary mindset, Emmanuel seeks to find lasting solutions to current Africa's problem through his researches. His current research focuses on China's Belt and Road Initiative, Academic and Cultural exchanges. He's an author of 2 books, 10 Academic papers, and 15 op-eds in his areas of interest.

Adekunle Osidipe

Adekunle  Osidipe, is Researcher/Lecturer in comparative education with research concentration on Technical and Vocational Education, Training, and Social Development in Africa. Deputy Director, Research Center  for China Africa Education Cooperation, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China. He is a member Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE), and International Vocational Education and Training  Association (IVETA). He has published many academic and op-ed articles in his areas of interest.

Michael Mitchell Omoruyi Ehizuelen

Michael Mitchell Omoruyi Ehizuelen, is a Research/Lecturer and the Executive Director Center for  Nigerian  Studies, Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China. His current research focuses on Foreign aid, Chinese trade, Manufacturing, Skill transfer, FDI, and China's BRI. He has published over 50 academic papers and over 70 op-eds in the above field. He's responsible for expanding his University's academic collaboration programme  in Nigeria. He is currently working on 7 books on China- Africa economic engagement and a book on the Great Benin Kingdom. He has peer-reviewed some manuscripts for international journals that publish under SAGE, such as  the Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, and Taylor and Francis such as Journal of  Chinese Economic  and Business. He intends to act as a bridge between China and Africa.

Cang Cong Zhao

Cang Cong Zhao, is a Professor  at the School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University China. He Research areas includes Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Silk Road, and BRI. He also has many publications in his areas of Interest.