MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS ACHIEVEMENT IN AFRICA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

The article examined the achievement of MDGs programme in Africa, using a comparative analysis of the two Africa's largest economy; that is, Nigeria and South Africa; in order to ascertain the extent at which these countries attained the goals, and to also, find out their reasons for achievement or failures of the various MDGs. Another objective of the study is to observe the areas where both countries can learn from each other for a more effective developmental capacity building. The article depended on secondary method of data collection, such as: text books, academic journals, government documents and circulars, newspapers and magazines, internet sources and so on. The various media reports on MDGs of both countries, and personal observation of the author has contributed immensely to the background knowledge of this article. The analysis of the study is based on the comparison of various authoritative developmental indices of Nigeria and South Africa. Thereafter, South Africa was found to have achieved the four MDGs target, almost before the 2015 deadline; While, Nigeria was unable to meet up with any of the assessed four Goals by the year 2015. The paper also noted other areas of convergence and divergence between the two countries with respect to the achievement of the MDGs. For example, both countries were observed to have exhibited a very high level of social inequality and unemployment. While, poverty and illiteracy rates vary widely between the two countries with Nigeria having a higher rate of the above stated indices than South Africa. Again, social welfarism was observed to be absent in Nigeria, but present in South Africa. In other for Nigeria to stand up to her challenges, there is the urgent need to cut down her over bloated bureaucracy and strengthen her institutions, entrench due process and accountability, enact social welfare policies, and ensure that there is the availability of reliable data for planning, in order to be well positioned to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs).