Today, the word “development” in relation to Africa is so frequently used to justify any endeavor that its essential meaning, and the strict standard of assessment inherit therein, is lost. To obtain clarity about any human activity, we must always first seek to recognize the principles of the Laws of Nature. Only then do we build a firm foundation for conceptual clarity in human activity.
Development in Nature occurs when the basic qualities of a life-form are nourished, unfolded in a continuous growth, and matured to outward form. Inherent characteristics are externally expressed and built-out in logical sequence into a more complex form that manifest the basic essential qualities. When a seed develops into a fruit-bearing tree, the basic qualities of the seed is what is nourished, unfolded into roots, continuously grows into a trunk. In logical sequence branches are built out from the trunk, and fruits are externally expressed as the more complex and final ramification of the seeds qualities.
African development then presupposes that the institutions, systems, programs, endeavors, cultural activities and all facets of human life in Africa…are the products (fruits) of the people’s indigenous characteristics, i.e., the creative expression and continous build-out of the inherent qualities of the people. But this is not so! Most forms in Africa today, whether education, governance, system of justice, etc are adopted. They are not the matured expression of the indigenous qualities of the people.
Thus today, I dare say Africa is window-dressing at best and stagnating at worse. But not really developing in the true concept of the word according to the Natural Law! We are continuing and slight modifying what we inherited, but have not transformed it in our indigenous image. Just like mankind was created in the likeness of the Divine, so also must all social forms and institutions among the different races and peoples on Earth, be created in the image of their inherent qualities!
The transformation of every institution and component of social life into an external image of the indigenous qualities of the African people, is thus the starting point of real development in Africa today.
May the builders of the African future and those who hear and understand this call come together. So that, through harmonious cooperation, we may join hands and lay the foundation stone for real African development.
~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah
Nation Upbuilding 