Oral history interview with Adebayo Adedeji, 2001

Born: 1930, childhood in Nigeria, schooling, growing up during WWII. Awareness of and interest in post-colonial struggles, Nigerian independence, global events. College: University College in Ibadan and London, early interest in science and math, later economics and social sciences, civil service in Nigeria, JFK Institute at Harvard, ongoing familiarity with UN. 1966: deputy economic advisor in Nigeria, experiences of second coup, teaching during 1960s; federal minister during 1970s, economic and political situation of post-colonial African states, internal tensions. Appointment to UN as chief of economic commission in Africa, 1975. Formation of ECOWAS, member of committee on reforming economic and social sectors of UN, creation of Nigeria' s Third National Development Plan. Development and planning theory. Head of ECA until 1991, importance of ideas produced in Africa. Theory that African development should come from within the continent. Work with other UN organization. Political and economic crises during ECA reign; search for alternatives to SAP. South African apartheid, marginality of modern African economy. Relationship between development and democracy, women, the environment, and human rights issues. African conflicts and problem solving