Abuja, Nigeria — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged African nations to shed what he described as a crippling “dependency syndrome” and instead embrace self-reliance and regional cooperation for sustainable development.
Speaking at a continental development forum in Abuja on Thursday October 24th, Wike argued that Africa’s overreliance on foreign aid and imported expertise continues to weaken its capacity for innovation and policy independence. He stated that true progress will only come when African governments begin to invest seriously in local production, human capital, and infrastructure.
According to the former Rivers State Governor, dependency has become a major obstacle to Africa’s competitiveness in global trade and governance. “We cannot continue to run cap in hand to others for what we can produce or solve ourselves. The future belongs to a self-sufficient continent that can harness its natural and human resources,” he said.
Wike further called for strategic partnerships among African countries to strengthen trade networks, industrial clusters, and technological collaboration, adding that Nigeria is already positioning the FCT as a model for regional development and urban renewal through sustainable public-private partnerships.
His comments drew applause from several delegates and diplomats who agreed that the time has come for Africa to chart its own course toward economic independence and institutional strength.
