Emmanuel Nnadozie: Africa needs to strengthen its public institutions

Africa has long struggled with capacity challenges that have hindered the continent's development agenda. According to Emmanuel Nnadozie, the Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation, the central missing link in Africa's development is the capacity challenges facing public institutions. Nnadozie highlighted the importance of addressing these challenges to propel Africa's development and accelerate regional integration. While acknowledging the efforts of the African Development Bank (ADB) and other organizations in promoting regional integration and supporting initiatives like the continental free trade agreement, Nnadozie emphasized that capacity building is essential to ensure the effective implementation of good strategies and policies. Nnadozie's insights shed light on the critical role of strengthening public institutions in driving Africa's development forward. Nnadozie commended the ADB for its role in promoting regional infrastructure development and accelerating regional integration. He stressed the need to address capacity challenges at various levels, including leadership capacity, critical skills, institutional capacity, and mindset change. Nnadozie emphasized the holistic approach taken by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in building capacity and supporting economic policies across African countries. One of the key projects undertaken by ACBF is the capacity building of financial and economic policy managers in countries, such as supporting institutions like the West African Institute for Monetary and Economic and Finance. By strengthening ministries of finance and economic institutions, ACBF aims to empower policymakers to make informed decisions and create effective policies. Nnadozie highlighted the importance of not only imparting skills but also ensuring that the necessary institutional framework and resources are in place for impactful results. Addressing the challenges faced by civil services in African countries, Nnadozie emphasized the need to rebuild public administration institutions and enhance professionalism within civil services. He underscored the historical context of Africa's public administration challenges and the importance of comprehensive programs to strengthen public administration institutions. Nnadozie called for a renewed focus on professionalism and efficiency within civil services across the continent. In advocating for independent institutions within government administrations, Nnadozie highlighted the role of parliament in providing oversight and legislation to ensure the separation of politics from administration. By strengthening institutions like parliament and promoting knowledge sharing and publications, ACBF aims to demonstrate the benefits of having professional and independent bureaucracies. Nnadozie stressed the importance of attracting and retaining top talent in civil service through proper compensation and addressing issues like nepotism and corruption. While acknowledging the political challenges of transitioning to a more professional and efficient civil service, Nnadozie emphasized the gradual and strategic approach needed to overcome these obstacles. He noted the complexities faced by governments in balancing the need for efficiency with high unemployment rates and highlighted the importance of developing a strategy to phase out underperforming staff while attracting high-caliber professionals. Nnadozie's insights underscored the nuanced approach required to strengthen public institutions in Africa and drive sustainable development.