scholarly journals Building Capacity for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in West Africa Sub-region: The Pivotal Role of RETRIDAL

Open Praxis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 337
Author(s):  
Clifford Amini ◽  
Oluwaseun Oluyide
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
West Africa ◽  
West African ◽  
Access To Education ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Building Capacity ◽  
Training And Research ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

The paper posits the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDAL) as an institution established for the purpose of enhancing Open and Distance Learning in the West African sub-region. The institute has pursued this mandate with an unparalleled vigour since its establishment in 2003 —a partnership of the Commonwealth of Learning and the National Open University of Nigeria. It is the opinion of this paper that enhancing the Open and Distance Learning mode of education in the West African subregion will require building capacity. Consequently, RETRIDAL has championed this cause through workshops and training sessions as well as commissioning research studies in Nigeria and other West African countries. The objective is to produce suitably qualified manpower that is able to utilise ODL to mitigate the exploding demand for access to education in the sub-region. The paper also foresees a future of ODL and RETRIDAL for West Africa, as many universities are keying into the distance education paradigm.

English in West Africa

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Gut
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Structural Properties ◽  
West African ◽  
The Other ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Current Role ◽  
British Colonization

This chapter describes the history, role, and structural properties of English in the West African countries the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, the anglophone part of Cameroon, and the island of Saint Helena. It provides an overview of the historical phases of trading contact, British colonization and missionary activities and describes the current role of English in these multilingual countries. Further, it outlines the commonalities and differences in the vocabulary, phonology, morphology, and syntax of the varieties of English spoken in anglophone West Africa. It shows that Liberian Settler English and Saint Helenian English have distinct phonological and morphosyntactic features compared to the other West African Englishes. While some phonological areal features shared by several West African Englishes can be identified, an areal profile does not seem to exist on the level of morphosyntax.

scholarly journals Promoting research to improve maternal, neonatal, infant and adolescent health in West Africa: the role of the West African Health Organisation

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Issiaka Sombie ◽  
Aissa Bouwayé ◽  
Yves Mongbo ◽  
Namoudou Keita ◽  
Virgil Lokossou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Adolescent Health ◽  
West African ◽  
The West ◽  
African Health

Bureaucrats and the Senegalese Political Process

1971 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 543-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
'Ladipo Adamolekun
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Political Process ◽  
West African ◽  
Military Rule ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Military Regimes ◽  
The Military

While independence in West Africa focused academic attention on political parties, the proliferation of military régimes in the late 1960s– by 1970, seven West African countries had experienced military rule — brought two other institutions into prominence: the military and civil bureaucracies. This article seeks to throw some light on the place of the civil bureaucracy in Senegal through a study of the role of bureaucrats in the country's political process.

scholarly journals Health Diplomacy and Regional Integration in West Africa: The West African Health Organization’s Experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Uchenna Anaemene
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
West African ◽  
Social Progress ◽  
Regional Health ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
African Health ◽  
The Social

From the outset the founding fathers of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recognized the relevance of integration in the social sector based on the conviction that intense cooperation in the economic and political sectors alone will not bring about lasting regional integration. For instance, the ECOWAS treaty of 1975 and revised treaty of 1993 had the promotion of social progress and collaboration in the social field as one of the objectives of the community. Yet scholars have not given it the deserved attention. This paper therefore represents an attempt to assess the extent to which the West African Health Organization (WAHO), a specialized health agency of ECOWAS, has contributed to regional health integration in West Africa. It argues that regional integration and cooperation should not be geared solely towards economic and political purposes. It also examines the achievements as well as the major challenges confronting WAHO. It concludes that regional health integration is no longer an option but an imperative for West African countries to meet their common health challenges.  

The West Africa Committee, London

1967 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-275
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Economic Advantage ◽  
West African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Mutual Economic ◽  
English Speaking

The chief purpose of the West Africa Committee, established in May 1956, is to aid and stimulate the economic development of the English-speaking West African countries—Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Gambia—by firms, companies, and individuals from outside West Africa, to the mutual economic advantage of these countries and of the members of the Committee.

scholarly journals Potencjał gospodarczy Afryki Zachodniej: wybrane implikacje z analizy taksonomicznej dla ekspansji gospodarczej

2017 ◽  
pp. 153-174
Author(s):  
Katarzyna A. Nawrot ◽  
Ewa Cieślik
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
West African ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Taxonomic Analysis ◽  
Taxonomic Methods

The article attempts to assess the economic potential of West Africa, using the taxonomic methods, formulate policy recommendations, and identify potential geographic directions of cooperation with the West African countries. It consists of four sections. The first part of the article characterizes the economies of West Africa in terms of their economic potential. The second section presents research methods and data applied in taxonomic analysis. Part three of the article discusses the results of taxonomic analysis. In the last part of the article we attempted to formulate recommendations for the economic policy of European countries and the strategies of European enterprises in stimulating expansion in the West African countries.

AFRICA’S REGIONAL APPROACH TO CONFLICT PREVENTION, SECURITY MANAGEMENT: „ECOWAS VISION 2020 - PEACE, HUMAN RIGHT AND SECURITY”

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-128
Author(s):  
Andrews Ayambire
Keyword(s):  
Regional Integration ◽  
West African ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Conflict Prevention ◽  
Vision 2020 ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Human Right ◽  
The West ◽  
Education And Health

This paper reviews the role of ECOWAS in promoting peace, human right and security in West Africa through the established vision 2020. The function of ECOWAS has always been creating a peaceful and enabling environment for cooperation and regional integration as a tool to enhanced development of the West African economy. Regional integration remains the most viable and appropriate tool for achieving and accelerating peace, human right and security among West African countries. With regard to the above function, the group in June 2007 adopted the transformational vision 2020 focused on the free move-ment of the population, greater access to efficient education and health, engaging in eco-nomic activities, raising the standard of living. This paper examines ECOWAS quest for peace, human right and stability on the continent within the conventional vision 2020. It highlights areas that require review to make peace and security more effective.

scholarly journals The role of foreign direct investment, financial development, democracy and political (in)stability on economic growth in West Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-46
Author(s):  
Hammed Agboola Yusuf ◽  
Waliu Olawale Shittu ◽  
Saad Babatunde Akanbi ◽  
Habiba MohammedBello Umar ◽  
Idris Abdulganiyu Abdulrahman
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Financial Development ◽  
Political Instability ◽  
West African ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Short Run

PurposeIn this research, we examine the role of financial development, FDI, democracy and political instability on economic growth in West Africa.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the dynamic fixed effects technique on the secondary data obtained from 1996 to 2016.FindingsOur empirical findings suggest that even though no significant relationship is established in the short run, the long-run coefficient of FDI is found to be significant and positive; a 1% increase in FDI inflow into the West African sub-region results in a 0.26% increase in economic growth. The coefficient of democracy is significant neither in the short run nor in the long run, but political instability is found to significantly and negatively impact the growth of the countries. Finally, the estimate of financial development–growth nexus follows the supply-leading hypothesis.Research limitations/implicationsThis research affirms the proposition that FDI is a relevant means of technology and knowledge transfers, thus resulting in increasing returns to production as a result of productive spillovers, which drives the growth of the economy. Consequently, an efficient institution – where the rule of law, political stability and economic freedom are top priorities – is a key to accelerate the growth of the West African economy. Similarly, we confirm the validity of the supply-leading hypothesis in West Africa. As such, by deepening the financial system, the growth of the subregion is propelled because an efficient financial system is a basis for sustainable development.Practical implicationThe applicable policies are those that promote growth through FDI, financial development, democracy and political instability. The governments of West African countries are enjoined to promote policies that attract FDI into the subregion and promote financial sector credits so that economic performances may be enhanced. In addition, the governments of West African subregion should fully entrench democratic practices and enhance a stable and sustainable political environment. This will not only restore investor confidence but will also facilitate the inflow of FDI into the West African economy.Originality/valueOur study is the first to jointly examine these important growth determinants, especially in the context of West Africa. This becomes necessary in order to open the eyes of policy makers to the need for entrenched full democracy and to proffer sustainable cures to the frequent unrests in the subregion. The use of Pesaran (2007) technique of unit root is also a deviation from several existing studies. One advantage of this technique over others is that being a second-generation test, it tests variable unit root in the presence of cross-sectional dependence.

Role of the West African westerly jet in the seasonal and diurnal cycles of precipitation over West Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 843-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiran Liu ◽  
Kerry H. Cook ◽  
Edward K. Vizy
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
West African ◽  
The West ◽  
Diurnal Cycles ◽  
Westerly Jet

scholarly journals Promoting the use of evidence in health policymaking in the ECOWAS region: the development and contextualization of an evidence-based policymaking guidance

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chigozie Jesse Uneke ◽  
Issiaka Sombie ◽  
Ermel Johnson ◽  
Bilikis Iyabo Uneke ◽  
Stanley Okolo
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
West African ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Policy Dialogue ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The West ◽  
Guidance Documents ◽  
Google Search

Abstract Background The Economic Commission of the West African States (ECOWAS), through her specialised health Institution, the West African Health Organization (WAHO) is supporting Members States to improve health outcomes in West Africa. There is a global recognition that evidence-based health policies are vital towards achieving continued improvement in health outcomes. The need to have a tool that will provide systematic guide on the use of evidence in policymaking necessitated the production of the evidence-based policy-making (EBPM) Guidance. Methods Google search was performed to identify existing guidance on EBPM. Lessons were drawn from the review of identified guidance documents. Consultation, interaction and interviews were held with policymakers from the 15 West African countries during WAHO organized regional meetings in Senegal, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. The purpose was to elicit their views on the strategies to promote the use of evidence in policymaking to be included in the EBPM Guidance. A regional Guidance Validation Meeting for West African policymakers was thereafter convened by WAHO to review findings from review of existing guidance documents and validate the EBPM Guidance. Results Out of the 250 publications screened, six publications fulfilled the study inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Among the important issues highlighted include: what evidence informed decision-making is; different types of research methods, designs and approaches, and how to judge the quality of research. The identified main target end users of the EBPM Guidance are policy/decision makers in the West African sub-region, at local, sub-national, national and regional levels. Among the key recommendations included in the EBPM Guidance include: properly defining/refining policy problem; reviewing contextual issues; initiating policy priority setting; considering political acceptability of policy; commissioning research; use of rapid response services, use of policy advisory/technical/steering committees; and use of policy briefs and policy dialogue. Conclusion The EBPM Guidance is one of the emerging tools that can enhance the understanding of evidence to policy process. The strategies to facilitate the use of evidence in policymaking outlined in the Guidance, can be adapted to local context, and incorporated validated approaches that can be used to promote evidence-to-policy-to-practice process in West Africa.

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