African Countries Need Continental Integration To Build Economic Power For Youth - Analyst, Deca

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:01]Now, let's have this conversation with foreign affairs analyst Kelechi Deka joins me on the news at 1:00 on the potential of the president's visit to Kenya. Thank you for joining us on the news at 1:00.

[00:00:17]Yeah, thank you so much. Right, beyond the diplomatic optics of this summit, attention will likely be on whether Nigeria can, you know, translate this engagement into tangible economic gains for citizens at home. What would the case be in this summit?

[00:00:36]Yeah, basically, when you look at the issues on the Africa forward summit, you have to bring into perspective the importance of African countries looking for ways of economic integration.

[00:00:50]Without continental integration, African countries will not be able to muster the kind of economic power needed for its teeming youth population. Presently, now Africa is the fastest growing when it comes to, you know, youth population getting into work age that don't have work opportunities out there. So, anything that does not put the issue of employment forward and anything that >> [clears throat] >> does not put on Africa coming together and being integrated will be able to uh tackle the issue of youth uh you know unemployment.

[00:01:37]So, that is what they need to focus on.

[00:01:38]Every country in Africa has to know what can Nigeria offer other African countries and what can other African countries offer Nigeria so that the continent be able to grow. Africa must look inwards towards Africa, not outwards. Mhm.

[00:01:55]And the summit is expected to be hosted by William Ruto of Kenya and also French President Emmanuel Macron. Um other world leaders are also expected to you know be present at this summit. But you know with changing political alliances in Africa, um how should Nigeria approach this um this summit especially from a position of strength or dependency?

[00:02:19]Um Nigeria's position in Africa should not be from a position of dependency.

[00:02:27]Nigeria should always project strength.

[00:02:30]But you have to project strength from a position of inclusiveness, not from a position of arrogance. You have to project strength. You have to start up with your soft um diplomacy, soft power. That's where you have to project strength because Nigeria is a is a a regional leader in West Africa. We have We have to move around in a way that we are carrying the other West African countries um with us when we are engaging with countries outside the region subregion of West Africa. And we have so much to offer Africa. And these are things we have to look into when we are projecting these. And as I said earlier, all the regions in Africa must find ways of integrating their economies and must find ways of trying as much as possible not to allow external influence to keep on waging divisive um you know geopolitical tensions in a way that it would be detrimental to the continent because from what's happening all over the world, that's what's happening. Um all the geopolitical leaders globally are trying to find a way of presenting themselves as if they're the best thing that can happen to Africa. But I still insist that the best thing that can happen to Africa is Africa looking inwards and using its own resources to develop the continent. Well, the president is accompanied on this you know visit by a few other officials.

[00:04:08]We see the foreign affairs minister there, agriculture and food security and also you know marine and blue economy and also environment. How strategic would you say these representatives really are you know as delegations for this visit considering the the the topics to be discussed at this summit?

[00:04:26]Yeah, because from from the delegation it shows that there's the likelihood that focus is going to be in the area of you know foreign relations because you know check what's happening in South Africa, the rising xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which is also pushing a sort of isolationism. Not only in South Africa, you see it's also happening in Ghana and it's also happening in some other countries. But these are the things that need quiet diplomacy, very smooth quiet diplomacy and I think that's why the minister of foreign affairs is there. Then the area of environment, Africa has been looking at how can it use its resources to develop its continent without being so overtly you know against the chorus of climate change globally and that's where you have the environment that is there. Then the issue of agriculture is very very pertinent because Africa must feed itself and if you look at the whole situation, Africa is the only continent in the world today that has the highest expanse of arable land. So in the way in the way Africa shouldn't be you know kind of in been unable to feed itself. And the best way to tackle it is how can we integrate some of our agricultural, uh, policies to find ways to match them so that what East Africa is offering, what West Africa is offering, what Southern Africa is is offering, we can combine all these things to find a way towards, uh, food security in the continent.

[00:06:11]Look forward to the outcome of this visit by the president and how it will really transform, um, you know, to tangible outcomes for the average Nigerians. Thank you for talking to us at this time. Foreign Affairs analyst, Kelechi Dike.