Intellectuals Advise On Chiefs Involvement In Nation Building South Sudanese Intellectuals have called on the government to involve chiefs in decision making process since they play a key role in enhancing policy formulation and implementation. 09 June 2011 Intellectuals Advise On Chiefs Involvement In Nation Building Facilitators answering questions from attendants at Juba university during the lecture [©Gurtong] By Waakhe Simon Wudu JUBA, 9th June, 2011 [Gurtong] - South Sudanese Intellectuals have called on the government to involve chiefs in decision making process since they play a key role in enhancing policy formulation and implementation.
This call came following a two days public lecture on culture and nation in South Sudan held in Juba University late last week. Experts on culture and nation building mostly lecturers and professors gave an open lecture facilitating an open forum to discuss critical issues on culture and other developmental areas. Some of the key speakers were the acting Dean of the College for Community Studies and Rural Development in the University of Juba, Dr. Alfred Lokuji. Lokuji gave a lecture on federalism work to save the new nation. Youssef Onyalla, Archivist at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage in the Government of Southern Sudan was among the keys speakers. Dr. Cherry Leonardi, a lecturer in African History at Durham University among other international experts, gave a lecture on why culture matters. In her presentation, Dr Cherry noted that, chiefs in Africa have vital and great roles in policy formulation and implementation. Excluding them, from such active roles would hinder effective policy formulation and implementation in the society. She noted that, African chiefs played a great role during the colonization of Africa. They understand the people in the grassroots better than key government officials. Their influence has greater impact on government policies if they are included. “Most colonial policies were implemented through the chiefs; they had a greater voice on the people and therefore, enhanced successful achievement of the colonialist’s interest at the time,” Cherry said. Considering the amendment of the current South Sudan transitional constitution, in which chiefs were involved, Cherry’s lecture indicated the limitation of the constitution when it comes to function. However, Dr. Alfred Lokuju reiterated that chiefs were not the only excluded key societal persons in the amendment of the constitution, there were no consultation on various issues in the region. “The way South Sudanese culture is being addressed in the constitution does not give room for the youths,” Dr. Lokuji said. The public lecture was organized by the Center for Peace and Development Studies, Rift Valley Institute in collaboration with Juba University and Danish Institute of International Studies. Benedetta De Acessi, a lecturer at Juba University and a member of the Rift Valley Institute told Gurtong in an exclusive interview that, the lecture was objectively organized to; discuss culture and the nation of South Sudan in this historical moment that the region needs to diversify in its institutions and policies. The lecture was also aimed to promote the role of Universities in the region in enhancing development, not only on culture but in the various ways of nation building. It was also aimed to promote the idea of research as the engine of development for South Sudan and strengthen the need to research by institutions. Dr. Hakim, a media activist, underscored the lecture as he recommended continued efforts for organizing the similar forums in future. “This is the first time a lecture of this kind is held at Juba University following a ban of similar public lectures by the Northern regime in the 1980s,” Dr. Hakim said. Posted in: Home -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
