NATIONHOOD AND THE QUEST FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE GAMBIA’s EXPERIENCE UNDER THE SECOND REPUBLIC, 1994 – 2015

 

Oyejide Felix Omotosho1*, Derin K. Ologbenla2, Cajetan I. Nnaocha3

1Dr., The University of the Gambia, Brikama, THE GAMBIA, ofomotosho@utg.edu.gm, omotoshofelix@yahoo.com

2Assoc. Prof. Dr, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, NIGERIA, dologbenla@unilag.edu.ng, derin_ologbenla@yahoo.com

3Dr., The University of the Gambia, Brikama, THE GAMBIA, cnnaocha@utg.edu.gm, cnnaocha@hotmail.com

*Corresponding author

 

Abstract

The Gambia and other nations of the world are today in the tasks of nation-building, by harnessing their human, material and ecological resources and channeling them towards increased production for higher outcome and satisfactory basic needs’ requirements, the very essence of development.

This paper examines the Gambia’s nationhood from 1965, when it attained independence and all efforts of national development by the two regimes so far both in first and second republics. The paper looks at the various policy-thrusts of the governments and how such have been effective to achieving sustainable development goals, through socio-economic programs and other drives that have complimented the efforts of the state to realize sustainable growth, particularly, those ones applied and actualized by the Yahya jammeh administration, 1994-2015.

To this effect, the strategies and approaches that the latter has employed in the formulation, execution and realization of policies and plans for his visionary objectives are explored so as to decipher the basic inductive and deductive facts for objective analysis and generalized conclusions. A number of suggested standard measures are raised for the administration to tap into in furtherance of efforts to industrialize the state and make it a destination for future investors and visitors and a happy home for all Gambians and non-Gambians alike.

This research is of the view that, although, this onerous task was begun in the first republic, but, with policies that were conservatively-constructed, placing the country to be too dependent on the outside and making it to lack rigorous development strives, thereby lagging in innovation and self-reliance and rendering the populace poor and non-vibrant. The paper argues that, with the coming of the second republic and a reversal of policy-thrust with a pragmatic approach, the economy began to be bouncing and responding to modern innovation, giving life to its citizenry and generating more vibrant, self-sustaining and reliant opportunities for them to contribute to nation-building. The paper opines that, not until this development occurred and the economy had been well-positioned under the new government, that, the Gambia began to experience genuine sustainable growth that is future guaranteeing, dependable and assuring.

 

Keywords: Nation, Nationhood, National Development, The Gambia, Second Republic and Independence.


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CITATION: Abstracts & Proceedings of SOCIOINT 2016- 3rd International Conference on Education, Social Sciences and Humanities, 23-25 May 2016- Istanbul, Turkey

ISBN: 978-605-64453-7-8