In Brief 4

Akande Tapped as CNNfn Africa Expert

Dean Benjamin Akande appeared on a live broadcast of CNNfn Jan. 10 as part of the network's "Maverick of the Morning" segment. Akande was interviewed by the financial news network on President George Bush's canceled trip to Africa, due to pending military action with Iraq. Bush has said that he will reschedule the Africa trip for later in the year.

Akande called Bush's trip cancellation a "great disappointment" for the people of Africa. "I think a great majority of the African leaders and the continent as a whole were really looking forward to the president's spreading of his compassionate conservatism to Africa," Akande told CNNfn. "It's a missed opportunity for the U.S. and President Bush to extend his influence and to gain new friends in Africa."

Akande said that Africa could become a key ally in the United States' war against terrorism, provided that it receives economic support to deal with some of its pressing domestic problems. "Right now, these nations are dealing with AIDS and health and economic issues, and I think terrorism is the last thing on their minds," Akande said. "We need to elevate this clearly in our attempt to quell this breeding ground for terrorism that we've seen in the recent past."

A Nigerian-American, Akande is an economic development expert on developing countries and a former consultant to the World Bank on Nigeria.

To view the CNNfn interview, click below
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