Addis Ababa — The 2016 Annual Adedeji Lecture will be delivered by renowned Development Economist Ha-Joon Chang and author of widely discussed policy books, most notably Kicking Away the Ladder and 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism, and Economics.
Chang teaches economics at University of Cambridge. He has served as a consultant to the World Bank, the Asian development Bank, the European Investment Bank, Oxfam as well as various UN agencies. He is also a fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington.
In 2013, prospect Magazine ranked him as one of the top 20 World Thinkers.
Chang's new book Smart Industrial Policy for Africa in the 21st century will be launched alongside the 2016 Economic Report on Africa on 3rd April during the ECA-AU Africa Development Week.
ECA launched the Adebayo Adedeji lecture series in March 2014 to honour and recognize the intellectual contribution to development, service to Africa and humanity of Professor Adebayo Adedeji ECA Executive Secretary from 1975-1978 and UN Under-Secretary General from 1978-1991.
The inaugural lecture was delivered by Donald Kaberuka, former President of the Africa Development Bank during the 2015 Conference of Ministers in Addis Ababa. Kaberuka called on Africa to figure out how to implement Agenda 2063. "Our ability to succeed is not pre-ordained, but based on the choices we take or don't take. We need to figure out how to implement Agenda 2063" said Kaberuka who bemoaned the continent's failure to implement decisions and agreements made collectively through continental and regional frameworks.
He argued that building the Africa we need does not always require money, but following through and implementing the decisions that member States agree on. "Has NEPAD been implemented? Have we done the peer reviews? Can we implement agenda 2063? asked Kaberuka.
The 2016 Adedeji lecture will take place on Sunday 3 April 2016 during the Africa Development Week.
