PANKSHIN – Senator Joshua Dariye has blamed corruption and violence for the slow pace of development in the African continent. Speaking at a National Teachers Conference, organized by Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State, Dariye said that unless the two evils were effectively tackled, speedy development would continue to elude the continent

PANKSHIN – Senator Joshua Dariye has blamed corruption and violence for the slow pace of development in the African continent. Speaking at a National Teachers Conference, organized by Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State, Dariye said that unless the two evils were effectively tackled, speedy development would continue to elude the continent. The senator, who chaired the conference, described the conference with the theme: “Language and literature as a panacea for curbing corruption and violence in Africa”, as “very timely”. “We are all aware of the kinds of destruction corruption and violence have brought to Africa. Nigeria would have been very developed if it was not held back by the two evils. “We must all rise to the challenge and ensure that drastic measures are taken to curb these menaces from slowing us down,” he declared.

Dariye commended the college for organizing the conference, and noted that language and literature had consistently played leading and significant roles in addressing corruption and violence in other nations. Prof. Appolonia Uzoaku, a lecturer, Faculty of Education, University of Abuja, in her keynote address, opined that corruption and violence could be curbed if experts in the field of language and literature did the right thing. “Advocacy, through the medium of Nigerian languages, is important for dismantling corruption. We need such advocacy to uproot executive profligacy and ensure transparency and accountability.

“Language and literature curricula should include themes and topics that highlight the problems of corruption and violence and also map out ways to rise above the two evils in our daily lives,” she declared. The Provost of the College, Prof. David Wunang, had described the conference as “very vital and timely”, considering the havoc violence had wrought on innocent people across the globe. The provost, represented by the College Chief Librarian, Mr. Caleb Damineng, said that corruption and violence could be curbed if stakeholders recognised and utilised the important roles of languages and literature in that quest. Mrs. Hulda Fwangchi, Interim Administrator, Pankshin Local Government of Plateau, in her remarks, decried the height of corruption and violence in African continent, and challenged leaders at all levels, to rise to the challenge of fighting them.

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Senator Joshua Dariye: Nigeria’s development is hampered by corruption and violence