Prof. Ngamen Kouassi
By Igbotako Nowinta
Editor-at-Large, Alltimepost.com
Ogwa, Edo State
Africa’s crisis is not lack of resources but failure of leadership—and only a politically awakened youth can break the cycle.
This was the blunt verdict of Prof. Cyrille Dalex Ngamen Kouassi, social engineer, philosopher and Director, Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, Glorious Vision University (GVU), Ogwa, Edo State, during an exclusive interview with Alltimepost on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Prof. Ngamen Kouassi, who also serves as Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and Chairman, Committee of Deans and Academic Directors at GVU, charged African—particularly Nigerian—youths to reclaim their power and hold leaders absolutely accountable, insisting that governance on the continent has been hijacked by incompetence.
“The tragedy of Africa,” he said, “is that round pegs are not put in round holes. Those who rule us do not understand the nitty-gritty of government. Leadership should be about competence, ethics and vision—not ethnicity, tribe or personal ambition.”
Describing Africa as “the food basket of the world and the continent of the future,” the renowned Professor of Ethics, Cultural and Political Philosophy argued that the paradox of abundance amid poverty is man-made.
“We are endowed—number one in natural and human resources. The problem is leadership. The solution is political consciousness. Power belongs to the people, but our youth are not yet politically motivated. They must rise, question authority, and demand accountability, justice and transparency,” he stressed.
Intellectuals Must Stop Being Silent
On the role of intellectuals, Prof. Ngamen Kouassi delivered a stinging rebuke, warning that scholarship without moral courage is betrayal.
“Intellectuals are those that are busy with things that do not concern them personally or individually” he said. “A true scholar must be objective, must interrogate social norms and challenge injustice. Intellectuality and morality go together. If you cannot ask hard questions or speak for the wellbeing of the people, you have failed your calling.”
Nigeria Under Siege: Poverty, Insecurity, Depression
Painted in stark terms, his assessment of Nigeria’s current state revealed a nation under severe strain.
“Nigerians are passing through harsh times,” he said. “Herdsmen attacks threaten agricultural sustainability. When food production suffers, prices skyrocket. Everything is interconnected—education, health, unemployment, social dislocation.
Poverty is now multi-dimensional. People are depressed; mental health cases are increasing. Government must act proactively and decisively.”
Universities Must Grow, Not Shrink
Reacting to reports of plans to halt the establishment of new universities, Prof. Ngamen Kouassi warned that such a move would be counterproductive.
“We cannot stop establishing universities,” he declared. “UNESCO recommended as far back as 2006, with estimated population of 140 million, that Nigeria should have about 300 universities, and in that 2006, Nigeria had 76 universities (26 federal, 26 state and 24 private universities). Now, in 2026, with a population of about 240 million, we have 300 universities. So, there is no need to stop the establishment of more universities. What the National Universities Commission (NUC) must do is ensure quality—adequate facilities, proper welfare for students and lecturers, and strict standards.”
He welcomed the recent agreement between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), describing it as “a step in the right direction,” but emphasized that sustained commitment—not temporary settlements—is what the education sector needs.
A Call to Action
Prof. Ngamen Kouassi’s message was unmistakable: Africa does not need miracles; it needs accountable leadership and fearless citizens. And the responsibility, he insisted, rests squarely on the shoulders of the youth.
“The future will not be given to us,” he concluded. “It must be taken—through consciousness, courage and collective action.”
