Economic Integration in West Africa: Revisiting Jide Olagbaju and Toyin Falola’s ‘Economic Cooperation: The ECOWAS Example’ By SMB Johnson

by Sesan M. JOHNSON

This tome by Olagbaju and Falola re-evaluates the activities of ECOWAS since its inception in 1975 with a view to highlighting its major constraints and critical issues for the future of the sub-region. In doing this, this chapter tries to look into the rationale for economic cooperation in West Africa. The chapter agrees with Charles Penthard in defining Economic Cooperation as ‘the coming together of geographically approximate states which share a sense of inadequacy in dealing with the problems of security and warfare’. It also affirms that economic integration as a strategy of socio-political and economic development is now recognised by most countries. Therefore, the desire to achieve increase in living standards of the people through economic cooperation has given rise to ECOWAS.

Peter Robson in the ‘The Economic of International Integration’ identified the conditions necessary for a trade creating economic cooperation as:

1.      a large economic area and large number of countries in the union;

2.      a lower average post-union tariff level than the pre-union level;

3.      competitive member states’ economies such that the range of products produced by higher cost industries in the different parts of the union is similar but their raw materials should be complementary and

4.      larger intra-union trade than trade with non-members.

Significantly, Olagbaju and Falola agree with Peter Robison, they further observe that these conditions that are favourable to a successful economic integration based on Orthodox Theory are apparently absent in West African countries using ‘Intra West African Trade Matrix 1975’ published by the United Nations Foreign Trade Statistics for Africa to buttress this observation.

The paper also outlines the historical development of cooperation, especially, economic cooperation in West Africa. It observes that only the French colonies continued with their pre-independence cooperative efforts, especially in the economic fields. All links among the former British colonies except the existence of West African Examination Council were dissolved after independence. The Union Donaniere les Etated de l’Afrique Orridentale (UDAO) was formed in the early 1960s by Cote d’Ivoire, Dahomey (now Republic of Benin), Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, Niger and Upper Volta. UDAO later became UDEAO (Union Donaiere des Etas de l’Afrique de Qu’est) in 1966 and was transformed to CEAO (Communate Economique de l’Afrique de L’Afrique de l’Quest) in 1973.

Olagbaju and Falola also point out that most of the organisations which sprang up short after independence were either more or less a continuation of colonial groupings or patterned and monitored by colonial administrators. They are reputed for their failures for reasons highlighted by Abdul Zalloh in ‘Political Integration in French-speaking Africa: Institute of International Studies, Berkeley, 1973’. Of high significance today, there are about thirty economic groupings with predominantly West African membership. Eighteen of these organisations were founded in the 1970s and ECOWAS was one of them.

ECOWAS

Categorically, the tome states that ECOWAS was formed when the Head of States and governments or their representatives from 15 West African nations met in Lagos 18^th July 1975 and signed the treaty providing for the establishment of ECOWAS, although this idea had been conceived before this date.

PROBLEMS OF ECOWAS

The paper reiterates it earlier position that the various disparities between member-states particularly in population, land area and resources endowment and economic development are serious obstacles to integration between and among ECOWAS member-states.

It was also observed in the tome that the low per-capital income in West Africa means low purchasing power in turn limits the scope of industrialisation and diversification. West African economies are also competitive in terms of raw materials and production instead of being complimentary. Other problems include the low level of trade between West African countries, poor infrastructural links among West African states, the railroad and telecommunications systems were built to serve individual country. Transport facilities are also geared to the need of overseas rather intra-regional trade. Intra-regional trade among ECOWAS is therefore physically difficult, time consuming and costly. A further area of problem pointed by these writers is the distribution of benefits from integration. The issue of distributing equitably the gains and/or losses from integration has been repeatedly identified as a potential threat to the success of ECOWAS, judging from the experience of similar groupings among developing countries. In addition, there are other administrative and political problems such as the effects of colonialism, concentration of power to representatives of Heads of States (the Authority) and Ministers (in the Council of Ministers) and frequent political changes in West Africa.

Conclusion

Fundamentally, Olagbaju and Falola did not mince words in observing that there is a widespread belief among developing countries especially ECOWAS member-states that economic integration could be a panacea for encouraging economic development and interchange. Also, significantly, these writers outlined the historical development of economic groupings in West Africa especially that of ECOWAS. They go on to highlight ECOWAS’ goal and aims, and identify the various problems militating against the progress.

I am of the opinion that the paper has pointed out the potential problems not out of pessimism concerning ECOWAS, but as a warming to the decision makers in West Africa to be better prepared to tackle them. I also pitch my tent with Olagbaju and Falola that, hopefully, ECOWAS can succeed if there is the sufficient determination and the right political commitment by member-states

TOFAC 2016: CONFERENCE THEME: “AFRICANITY”

TOFAC 2016 is holding July, Monday 4 to Wednesday July 6, 2016  at Redeemed's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. Organisers are still accepting abstracts. Submission of Abstracts Due by April 15, 2016. For detailed information on the conference, click here 

Training and Re-training

We offer training in the areas of ICT4D, Youths developments, Human Capacity Building, Church Workers’ Growth, Peak Performance, etc


"It's All To Do With The Training: You Can Do A Lot If You're Properly Trained." - Elizabeth II, Queen Of Great Britain  

 

These are some of the few conferences and seminars I have participated in.... in recent times: 

• Speaker @ International Networking Summitheld @ Dunamis Drama Ministry International, Bashorun, Ibadan, Nigeria, Dec 2015 
  
  Topic: ‘The Church and the Social Media in the 21st Century’

• Speaker @ Teens/Youths Camp Meeting held @ GOFAMINT Camp, Igbo-Oloyin, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2015

       Topic: ‘Sexuality: You and the World’

• Speaker @ Teens/Youths Camp Meeting held @ GOFAMINT Camp, Igbo-Oloyin, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2014

       Topic: ‘Debunking Myths About Sex’

• Speaker @ Teens/Youths Camp Meeting held @ GOFAMINT Camp, Igbo-Oloyin, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2013

         Topic: ‘Living Godly Lives As Teenagers/Youths in this Global Village’

• Speaker @ ICT4Teens Seminar held @ Christ Life Church, Akobo, Ibadan, Nigeria, 2013

         Topic: ‘Internet Safety Tips for Teenagers’

• Speaker @ Teens4Christ Prayer Seminar held @ Glory Tabernacle, Bodija, Ibadan,Nigeria, October 2012

          Topic: ‘The Teens and Nation Building’

• Speaker @ Cyber Mission Conference held @ Teachers’ House, Ring road, Ibadan,Nigeria, 2011

          Topic: ‘Internet Tools for Evangelism in Africa’

• Speaker @ Internet Evangelism Conferenceheld @ Glory multipurpose hall,Ibadan, Nigeria, 2009

        Topic: ‘Internet Evangelism in Africa’

A Clarion Call: Writing Church History

Why history? Why writing the history of a Church? Of what value is history? In order to understand where we are going, we need to understand where we came from. This is the value of history in general. Knowing your trajectory allows you to understand yourself better, to put your experience in the proper perspective. What then is the value of the history of a Church? 

Without the history of the Church, Christian theology becomes theoretical rather than practical. Christianity is first and foremost the acts of God in time - and ultimately in Christ - more than its morality, doctrinal formulations, or a worldview.

Engaging history of a Church provides perspective on the Church’s interaction with surrounding culture and communities. Telling the story of a local Church - how it came to be and how it has grown and changed over the years - is always a worth-while task. If no one ever stops to remember ‘what happened’ way back, the congregation has lost a valuable piece of its identity and how it has managed to circumvent the varied complexities and challenges faced. Once the memory is gone, it is all but impossible to recover. And certainly in many Churches, long memories can sometimes block much- needed change.

Unfortunately, many modern people often think of history as a luxury, or a hobby for certain people with extra time on their hands, or an aptitude for remembering names and dates. But truly knowing and understanding your story is never a luxury. It tells you not just where you came from, but who you are and where you are headed. In fact, it is helpful to think of the local Church historian’s task as a research into a congregation’s DNA, and its particular personality. No doubt, the present-day character of a local Church often has deep historical roots.

Some of the fundamental questions that often arise when writing the history of a Church are: Was the Church formed as a result of a missionary effort, perhaps beginning life as a struggling act of faith? Or what is it a result of a protest or an opposition to a particular set of theological ideas or a denominational action? As it is true with people, early circumstances do not completely determine what a Church will become, but they can certainly set the agenda for what follows, often in subtle and surprising ways.

Fundamentally, I am advocating for serious efforts in documenting the history of churches. This will go a long way in the understanding of the past & present challenges, achievements, moves of God, etc. Importantly, trained historians should be contacted in order to have a thorough and professional work.

The Groundwork: ‘The History of Foursquare Gospel Church, Akobo-Ojurin, Ibadan, Nigeria,2007-2013’

Abstract: About the book



It is helpful to think of the local Church historian’s task as a research into a congregation’s DNA, and its particular characterisation. No doubt, the present-day character of a local Church often has deep historical roots. Hence, this book surgically looks into the microcosm and internalities of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Akobo-Ojurin, Ibadan, Nigeria. It x-rays the visionary affirmativeness that laid the foundation of the church, the organization and the people that orchestrated it. It throws lights into how God protected and preserved his people from the beginning to the present day so as to bring about the sure accomplishment of his redemptive purposes in Jesus Christ. The vision to establish the branch was birthed during the leadership of the then Zonal Superintendent of Iyana Zone, Reverend Gabriel Olanrewaju Akande of blessed memory. Paradoxically, the church was founded on April
01, 2007 (April Fool Day). As a trained historian, the author believes that history is progressive. Calculatedly, he opts for chronological historiography - writing style, though; he takes a swipe into some thematic issues. This historical writing only covers April 2007 to July 2013.

To download the complete History of Foursquare Gospel Church, Akobo-Ojurin, Ibadan, Nigeria,2007-2013, click here

First World & Third World Ambivalence to the Underdevelopment Architecture of Third World States

One major fact is that the bourgeoisie in the Third World, particularly in Africa, have a vested interest in reproducing the status quo to maintain their positions of power, and are therefore concerned about political legitimation. A case in point is the practice of socialising debt, or, and this amounts to the same thing, the transformation of private to public debt.

Bailing out capitals—whether indigenous or foreign—means that the burden of repayment gets shifted to society at large (socialisation of debt). Interest payments must take place through increased forms of economic exploitation (lower real wages and longer hours), higher taxes usually in the form of value-added tax, an increase in the price of basic foodstuffs, higher interest rates and, indirectly, cuts in government spending in terms of education, health and welfare. New forms of political domination— usually more economically and physically coercive in nature—are required to support the ever-growing intensification of economic exploitation.

Paradoxically, the largest part of the various loans obtained by the Third World, particularly by the African states, is looted and carted away back to the foreign accounts in various banks of the First World. No wonder, developments in most African states did not correspondent to the huge debts.

In the same manner, the First World countries that have orchestrated, accentuated and continued to maintain the indebtedness of the Third World countries are doing absolutely nothing to reverse this situation. In fact, the current international economic system is designed to perpetuate this status quo. Response of the First World to attempts at debt relief, debt cancellation, debt reduction, debt refinancing or rescheduling has been highly characterised with ambivalence and apathy. Reportedly, there has been reduction in the grants given to the Third World countries by the First World countries. Also, the amount paid to the First World countries and multilateral institutions (such as the IMF and the World Bank) by the Third World countries on accumulated interests on loans and in servicing some of these loans out-weighed the paltry grants being.