The African economic transformation demands strong and skilled leaders as well as healthy workforce equipped with the knowledge and skills to be highly productive in the workplace and to generate innovations in technologies, processes, products, and services. However, there is concern that there is a challenge of leadership skills in Africa, that needs a greater and immediate response from all African states ( Africa Capacity Report 2011) and Allam Ahmed, Kobena T. Hanson, (2011), because lack of strong political leadership is an impediment to development. Notably the recent conflicts in several African nations are part of the evidence of compromised leadership. On the other hand, the African Union Agenda 2063 calls for industrialization for the transformation of the African continent that requires prompt development of human capacity, including the leadership capacity to formulate, implement, and monitor development policies and programs. African universities and business schools have significant role to play in providing core leadership skills to drive the transformation processes. Nevertheless, there is a concern that these institutions themselves also lack adequate and necessary human capacity to capacitate leaders to adapt to Africa’s needs. Lessons from ACBF’s interventions in this areas, however show that, while institutional, political, demographic as well as resource challenges exist, African universities today, are exceptionally positioned to enhance institutional leadership and positively contribute to African transformation as a result of strengthened private-public partnerships, advancement in ICT, increasing in number and quality etc.
Do you have ideas or insights on enhancing the role of African universities and business schools, for providing core leadership skills needed for the transformation of the Africa continent? Please join this AfCoP online discussion led by Dr. Sheka Bangura: “Building core leadership skills-set for Africa’s transformation: The role of African universities and business schools.”
The following are some questions to think over:
- What is the greatest leadership skill-set needed in Africa in order to speed up its development agenda?
- What role does African universities and business schools play in building core leadership skill-sets?
- What challenges are facing the African universities and business schools to provide core leadership skills to Africans?
- What are the short and long term opportunities for these institutions to provide core leadership skills for African’s transformation?
- Which different stakeholders can and or should support African universities and business schools in addressing the leadership skills challenges sustainably?
Please use this link or comments section below to share your perspectives. Join the discussion on the African Community of Practice (AfCoP) AfriK4R forum. If you are unable to participate online, send comments or case studies by email to the moderator, Dr. Sheka Bangura, at shekabangs@gmail.com
