History and Prospects for Regional Integration in Africa: By Professor Adehayo Adedeji, CFR

Abstract

Statement by Professor Adehayo Adedeji, CFR at the Third Meeting of the African Development Forum. Professor Adedeji, on his remarks highlighted that, the key feature of the hub-and-spoke arrangement is that trade between the hub and each spoke is naturally dominated by the former to the detriment of the latter, unless the spokes work in a concerted manner. The 1945 Pan African Congress -the fifth in the series held in Manchester, England was the first to be dominated by Africans and African issues, even if it was very much the creation of the diaspora leaders. the economic integration process, regional infrastructure cooperation and integration has not been an outstanding success. The persistence of the trade patterns inherited at independence has been a limiting factor to integrated infrastructure development. The persistent and long-drawn out economic crisis in Africa has considerably slowed the pace of economic co-operation and integration. the problems of economic integration in Africa is the dearth of the entrepreneurial class in the member states. This is a class of innovators who in their search for profit maximization seek markets beyond their national borders. As this class grows in number, quality and effectiveness, regional integration will grow and become diversified.