Adekeye Adebajo

Adekeye Adebajo is a Nigerian scholar of international relations, political scientist and Pan-African intellectual whose work focuses on African peace and security, regional integration, conflict resolution, the United Nations, Nigeria–South Africa relations and Pan-Africanism. Quotes Because Nigeria accounts for 70 per cent of West Africa’s economy and South Africa 60 per cent of Southern Africa’s economy. Adebajo was explaining why Nigeria and South Africa have a particularly important role in African regional affairs. He linked their economic weight to their responsibility for promoting regional integration. If you’re going to have effective regional integration, both countries need to have a vision of what that should look like. Adebajo was discussing the responsibility of Nigeria and South Africa to contribute to African regional integration. He argued that their economic and political influence gives them an important role in shaping regional cooperation. Africa has low trade between its countries 12 per cent, compared to about 60 per cent between the countries in the EU. Adebajo was highlighting the limited level of intra-African trade and using the European Union as a comparison. He presented greater regional economic integration as an important African priority. The success of the political and economic integration in Africa thus rests heavily on the shoulders of these two regional Gullivers. Adebajo used the metaphor of regional Gullivers to describe Nigeria and South Africa. Africa to this day, like under every US administration, remains last in the global hierarchy of US foreign policy interest. Adebajo made this observation while discussing American foreign policy toward Africa and expectations surrounding the Obama administration. He argued that Africa remained a relatively low priority in US foreign policy. In some areas, the EU may be more important than the United Nations. He distinguished the EU's importance in economic relations from the UN's greater role in African peacekeeping and security. In the area of security, I would say that the UN is more important. He considered the UN particularly important in the field of peacekeeping and security. The role of the public intellectual is particularly important in Africa. He argued that intellectuals should engage with public affairs, challenge prevailing assumptions and contribute to debates about Africa's political and historical future. The public intellectual is particularly important in Africa, with such individuals having a responsibility to promote a cosmopolitan Pan-Africanism. Adebajo was arguing that African intellectuals have a responsibility beyond academic work. He connected public intellectualism with Pan-Africanism, reparations for slavery and colonialism, and engagement with questions of justice. External links Category:Africa Category:Living people