CONCEPTUAL APPRAISAL OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) FIVE YEARS AFTER ITS TERMINATION

Ibiyemi Sheriff Olasunkanmi
Volume 7 Issue 1

Abstract

The paper reports that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would have recorded more success stories had the eighth goals of the MDGs (the global partnership for development) being backed by equivalent, transparent and accountable actions. There are numerous challenges to actualizing the MDGs from the outside, the Nigerian government cannot be excused the guilt of failing to put the interest of its citizens at heart. The immeasurable effects of their activities on deepening the crisis of poverty, and consequently, insecurity in the region and beyond have become too awful for words. However, how will Africa eradicate poverty and hunger with the co-existence of such practices? If foreign investment were intended not to only profit the investors but to also uplift poor nations, then why do African states grow poorer? Imperialism foisted by the tool of capitalism is the rationale why African nations experience growth without development. While these may not necessarily be a sufficient explanation, other factors such as bad leadership, corruption and porous democratic institutions cannot be undermined in explaining the pity state of the continent today. Ideally, direct foreign investments and partnership with the continent ought to translate in reality into the alleviation of poverty and social insecurity that have become the lot of the people in yester years. But the reality today is that foreign investments in Africa create massive wealth for the few ruling class, who later use such wealth and resources in developing the already developed nations through money laundering. In the end, Africa’s human and natural resources are sucked dry. Not until there is a blockage of the draining pipes and there is ideal intent and purposeful will, the continuous demands by African states for in Africa cannot be a sine qua non for real poverty alleviation as projected in the MDGs. The point however, is that there is the need to now look beyond 2015, with a more transparent, determined and accountable attitude to the MDGs. The paper recommends self sustaining growth, political will among others.

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