Kabilun Africa Think Tank: The Africa We Deserve
Introduction
The word ‘Kabilun’ is derived from Kabilar which directly translates in the Hausa language. The Hausa language is widely spoken in Africa by about 70 million people, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Kabilun Africa Think Tank (KATT) is hosted by Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI), located in Kaduna state Nigeria where Hausa is a social language of communication.
The need for a Think Tank is now more imperative than ever, a glance at each African country will highlight a myriad of challenges which may not be unique to the country but shared across board. Most Africans will agree that there is currently an inefficiency in leadership and an overt over-dependence on developed nations for ‘bail-outs’ in a vast majority of countries. This implies that decisions and policies which need to be set in place or enforced to set the continent as a global power are grossly inadequate.
While Africans working in different spheres around the world, especially in developed countries continue to make significant strides that have earned them global recognition, their home countries continue to suffer from the consequences of dearth and inefficient leadership. KATT presents a platform for brilliant Africans within and in diaspora to give back to the continent by coming together and brainstorming on issues that concern us locally; then presenting to our respective country leadership innovative ideas and policies to give us the Africa we deserve.
Why Kabilun Africa?
A think tank often comprises a group of individuals who are capable of brainstorming across a section of challenges or issues through public policy research to influence governments at varying levels. Boer when asked what think tanks are good for, without mincing words, said ‘influence peddling.’
Think tanks motivate for change by coming up with innovative ideas and setting up effective networks. Minds come together to advocate, argue, and lobby for the desired change at all levels of government (local, state, and federal).
In today’s internet-driven world, KATT can collaborate with passionate professionals of African descent and beyond, globally, who desire change. The media has continued to present Africa as a continent that is either dying or in a sorry state, interventions or rescue missions targeted at alleviating the sufferings of Africans are often curated outside the shores of Africa by persons who do not understand the uniqueness of the African continent and its people. This may be linked to the low success records sometimes experienced and again places the continent in not so good light.
Our mission is to change negative narratives and present Africa to the world as the superpower she truly is.
Our vision is to influence policy to deliver the Africa, we deserve.
Our Scope
Africa is our home and where we focus our discuss. ALL regardless of race or any other identity are welcome to join in. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 will be used to address peculiar challenges as perceived by thinkers from the region/continent. It is important that these goals be contextualised to reflect the African narrative
Specific leads of the SDG2030 include
Goal 1 No poverty
Goal 2 Zero hunger
Goal 3 Good health and well-being
Goal 4 Quality education
Goal 5 Gender equality
Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation
Goal 7 Affordable and clean energy
Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth
Goal 9 Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
Gaol 10 Reduced inequalities
Goal 11 Sustainable cities and communities
Goal 12 Responsible consumption and production
Goal 13 Climate action
Goal 14 Life below water
Goal 15 Life on land
Goal 16 Peace, justice, and strong institutions
Goal 17 Partnerships for the goals
Further details on the SDG2030 can be found here.
How to Get Involved
Academics and practising professionals are specially invited to present issues they are passionate about any of the listed SDGs or relevant topics through:
- A Virtual Space for Ongoing Dialogue
- Quarterly Virtual Events on Key Sustainable Development Topics
- Monthly Sectoral Policy Papers
- Submission of Annual Publications
- Advocacy
- Publicise Relevant Research and Key Policy Transformation
To join the KATT Think Tank, kindly fill out one of the membership forms below as it applies to you.
Membership Fees
Student Membership – free
Committee Membership – free
Individual Membership– free
Corporate Membership – free
Our Focus
To showcase Africa’s multi-sectoral problems and potential solutions; providing a space for critical discussion, research, advocacy and community service.
Who are We?
A tribe (Kabilar), a group of professionals, and experts in our everyday experiences across Africa who desire to see concrete and positive changes by influencing policies to deliver the Africa we all deserve. We are facilitated by an ever-expanding committee, and welcome committee members into our fold regularly.
Convenor: Safiya Ibn Garba, Founder and Programme Director, Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative, Director of Institutional Learning Generations For Peace, Doctoral Student at UN-Mandated University for Peace, FemiList100, Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Fellow, Amazon of Arewa, Outstanding Citizen Honour Awardee. Safiya is also a member of The Women Experts Network Foreign and Security Policy.
Outreach and Publicity: Dr Tchad Sharon Jatau, currently serves as the Technical Adviser, Research and Development at Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative. An experienced project management professional, a research and development analyst, able to deploy research tools for monitoring, and evaluation accountability for organisational learning.
Committee Member: Dr Sunday Orinya of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Lafia, Nassarawa State, Nigeria, is the coordinator of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution of the University. He holds a PhD in Political Science with a research interest in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Security and Development studies.
Committee Member: Dr Andrea Thomas is a disruptor and an astute change agent who has worked with over 35 universities globally in designing effective programs for digital communities and peer to peer learning for Virtual Exchange and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Andrea is also a UN Global Diplomacy Fellow.
Further information concerning KATT can be sought by sending an email to kabilunafricathinktank@eweing.org