Abstract:
With the wind of change in the early 1960s there was unprecedented euphoria that with political independence, Africa would be on a trajectory of transformation. This assertion was predicated on the continents abundant natural resources. Regrettably, by the 1960s there were palpable signs of decay and backwardness resulting from the World bank and the International Monetary Fund (WB/MF) dictated Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and huge external debt. This scenario was exacerbated by the fratricidal wars of the 1990s which brought despair, massive destruction and devastation of the environment. The aftermath is that all these negative activities have brought an unsustainable development such that the continent ecosystem is dangerously threatened. More worrisome is the fact that by the 21st century, the continent cannot support and preserve its population that is constantly confronted with fear and insecurity. This study, therefore seeks to examine how sustainable development can be used to advance the frontiers of human security. As a qualitative research, we relied on the secondary sources. These include a review of existing literature, journals, magazines, official reports, and visit to the Center of Black Arts and African Culture (CBAAC) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). It was discovered that Africa has the objective conditions for economic take-off, but has derailed because successive rulers placed primitive accumulation of wealth before service to the people. We, therefore, recommend that African leaders should begin to lay a foundation for sustainable development so that there will be a triumph of human security. |
