Redefining African Governance: The ASG Opportunity After Kingsley Moghalu
Redefining African Governance: The ASG Opportunity After Kingsley Moghalu
The recent departure of Kingsley Moghalu from the African School of Governance (ASG) marks more than just a leadership transition. It is a moment of inflection a rare chance for the institution to critically assess its role in shaping the governance landscape across the continent. Rather than mourning the exit of a prominent figure, this development should galvanize ASG to chart a course that looks boldly toward the future of African leadership.
Legacy vs. Future: The Institutional Dilemma
Institutions across Africa are often weighed down by a fixation on legacy. Celebrating the achievements of notable past leaders is important, but it must not come at the expense of innovation and progress. The African School of Governance now faces a pivotal choice: to either become a museum of African political nostalgia or a launchpad for transformative ideas and dynamic leadership.
Kingsley Moghalu, a respected economist, political thinker, and former presidential candidate in Nigeria, brought prestige to ASG. His intellectual stature helped position the school as a credible hub for political education. However, the departure of such a figure offers ASG a moment to shed dependency on individual personalities and instead institutionalize a vision rooted in systems, ideas, and sustainability.
Reimagining the Role of Political Schools in Africa
Across the continent, governance challenges persist: corruption, weak institutions, electoral manipulation, and a growing disillusionment with democracy. The response to these crises cannot be more of the same. Africa needs political schools that do more than teach history or recycle existing power dynamics. It needs bold, innovative institutions capable of producing leaders who are not just competent but visionary.
ASG has the chance to fill this gap by creating curriculum and leadership programs that address the real needs of Africa today climate justice, youth empowerment, digital governance, regional integration, and inclusive economic development. By doing so, it will shift from being a platform for celebrating intellectuals to a workshop for building them.
Youth Engagement: The Centerpiece of a New Vision
The median age in Africa is under 20. Yet, the continent’s political institutions remain dominated by leaders over 60. This mismatch between the governed and the governors is at the heart of Africa’s governance crisis. ASG’s strategic refocus should include deliberate efforts to attract, train, and mentor young Africans who are passionate about public service but alienated by traditional politics.
Rather than being a place where credentials are recycled, ASG must become a forge where new political actors are shaped. This requires scholarship opportunities, accessible digital content, mentorship networks, and partnerships with grassroots organizations across Africa.
International Partnerships with African Priorities
In its bid to reposition itself, ASG must also scrutinize its partnerships. Collaborations with Western institutions often bring resources, but they must not dilute African agency. A renewed ASG should prioritize South-South cooperation, especially with countries and institutions that understand the complexity and promise of Africa’s unique governance contexts.
Moreover, ASG can lead in crafting African-centered narratives around policy, governance, and leadership. It must become a publishing house for African thought, a convener of critical debates, and a space where radical ideas are nurtured and tested.
Measuring Success: Outcomes, Not Optics
The future credibility of the African School of Governance will depend not on the fame of its alumni but on the impact of its graduates in public service. Are they winning elections? Are they reforming institutions? Are they fighting for justice and equality? These are the true metrics of success. The school must move beyond brand-building toward results-driven programming and leadership accountability.
In a continent where too many institutions are built on personality cults, ASG can be a model of structural thinking a place where the idea of good governance is bigger than any single name or office.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for the Future of Governance in Africa
Kingsley Moghalu’s departure from ASG is not the end of a chapter it’s the beginning of a critical transition. It is a wake-up call for the institution to rise to its true potential: not as a relic of elite politics but as a seedbed for Africa’s future leaders. The time for retrospection has passed. Now is the time for reinvention.
If ASG embraces this moment with boldness and vision, it can set a new standard for political education and leadership training on the continent. Africa deserves institutions that are as ambitious as its people. And perhaps, just perhaps, ASG can become the blueprint for what that future looks like.
Suggested Internal Link: How African Youth Are Reshaping Political Innovation
Suggested External Link: Mo Ibrahim Foundation – Leadership & Governance in Africa