Paper/Proposal Title
Human Rights and Underdevelopment: Extrapolating the Liberalization Policy of Neo-Colonial Actors in Africa
Location
M2320
Start Date
November 2023
End Date
November 2023
Keywords
Human rights, liberalization policy, structural adjustment program, inclusive development, Nigeria.
Abstract
This paper affirms that the idea of huma rights pre-supposes that human beings, by their nature, are entitled to certain inalienable rights that are necessary conditions of a good life, without which the quality of life is compromised. The concept also pre-supposes, simultaneously, an obligation on the part of the society to uphold these claims. However, in Africa, the colonial and neo-colonial actors’ operationalization of human rights have engendered underdevelopment of these rights, and in essence brought about socio-economic and political development quagmire in the continent. One key operational tool of these actors is the liberalization policy which its implementation so far has compromised the quality of life and human rights of Africans in their continent. The present study analyzes the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) and the current minimization of public funds in public education in Nigeria as derivatives of the liberalization policy in Africa. The study adopts secondary sources of data collection and the descriptive analytical tool as a method of study. The findings demonstrate that African countries nay Nigeria are exposed to the exploitative mechanisms of the liberalization policy. The study, therefore, advocates a paradigm shift that is in tune with human rights-based economic and educational governance for there to be an inclusive development in Africa.
Author/Speaker Biographical Statement(s)
Nnamdi C. Ajaebili, PhD, is currently Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Nigeria. His research interest straddles African history and culture, gender, international relations and foreign policy. His academic publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as Ikenga: Journal of African Studies, Peace and Conflict, Journal of Asian and African Studies, International Journal of Intangible Heritage, and Asian Women. Email: nnamdi.ajaebili@unn.edu.ng. Chukwuka E. Ugwu, PhD, is a senior lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Local Government of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria. His areas of research interest include, among others, African development studies, human resources management, and social policy. He has contributed articles to peer-reviewed journals such as African Journal of Business and Economic Research, African Renaissance, Public Administration Issues, International Journal of Public Administration in the Digital Age, and International Journal of African Renaissance Studies. Email: chuka.ugwu@unn.edu.ng. Mathias Nwande is a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration and Local Government at the University of Nigeria. He is a legal practitioner and holds a PhD in political science. His research interest includes human rights activism, social justice, and administrative law studies. He has published severally in peer-reviewed journals. Email: mathias.nwande@unn.edu.ng. Dr Emmanuel Onyeabor is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International & Comparative Law, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria. He earned a B.Ed. degree in Geography, M.Sc. degree in Development Planning, M.Sc. degree in Environmental Management, LLB, LLM (Human Rights) and PhD (Env Law and Policy). He is a member of the Gender Centre (Gen-Cen.) Research Group, University of Nigeria. He has published a number of articles in learned and reputable journals including: “Climate Change Induced Impacts, The Court and Litigating Violation of Human Rights,” “COVID-19 Crisis, Wildlife Trafficking and Environmental Governance in Nigeria,” “The current legal framework for pollution control in the Niger River Basin relative to SDG 6.3,” “The Political Question and Litigating Loss and Damage: Any hope for Victims of Climate Change Induced Impacts in Nigeria?” “Legal and Policy Responses to Climate Change Induced Migration and Conflict: Insights from Nigeria,” “Making the Punishment fit the crime in environmental pollution control and governance: A case for Nigeria”,”Technology Transfer for Development in Nigeria: Patterns, Problems and Prospects, among others. Phone: +234-803 316 9807, +234-705 985 2449. Email: emmanuel.onyeabor@unn.edu.ng
Human Rights and Underdevelopment: Extrapolating the Liberalization Policy of Neo-Colonial Actors in Africa
M2320
This paper affirms that the idea of huma rights pre-supposes that human beings, by their nature, are entitled to certain inalienable rights that are necessary conditions of a good life, without which the quality of life is compromised. The concept also pre-supposes, simultaneously, an obligation on the part of the society to uphold these claims. However, in Africa, the colonial and neo-colonial actors’ operationalization of human rights have engendered underdevelopment of these rights, and in essence brought about socio-economic and political development quagmire in the continent. One key operational tool of these actors is the liberalization policy which its implementation so far has compromised the quality of life and human rights of Africans in their continent. The present study analyzes the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) and the current minimization of public funds in public education in Nigeria as derivatives of the liberalization policy in Africa. The study adopts secondary sources of data collection and the descriptive analytical tool as a method of study. The findings demonstrate that African countries nay Nigeria are exposed to the exploitative mechanisms of the liberalization policy. The study, therefore, advocates a paradigm shift that is in tune with human rights-based economic and educational governance for there to be an inclusive development in Africa.
