There is a gap between development and underdevelopment. To cross from one level to the other requires a bridge. This is the developmental gap bridge that will enhance the crossover from the underdeveloped status to the developed status. This study focuses on Africa as largely on the underdeveloped or developing status and requires to use the bridge so as to cross over to the developed level. The research question pertinent to be answered is when will Africa bridge the development gap? The World Bank data using nine variables are analysed, the findings revealed that Africa is lagging behind in most sectors and must cross the bridge of development to the developed status. Political and economic solutions are proffered to correct this skirmish.
TopIntroduction
There is no doubt that there is the persistent presence of a gap, fissure and or lacunae in global politics. The entire world countries and continents alike are differently endowed by Divine providence. The uniqueness in the difference among the country and continent comparatives is sufficient to make them develop at their own independent pace at a relatively equally developmental rate and mutually aligned (Aluko, 2020; Adedeji, 2023; Ajide & Dada, 2023). This implies that the natural endowment of each country can make it rich and developed to a substantial level when compared with other countries.
Africa is a continent with sixty-five (65) countries. Each country can be divided into five regions. These include; West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Central Africa and North Africa. Each country and region has a great deal of both natural and human resources. These esteemed resources have the potential to transform every section of the governance and politics of the country. These include; the economic, social (religious and ethnic), political educational and psychological sectors. The geographical terrains are diverse and vary from region to region. It ranges from extreme hot in North Africa and Central Africa to extreme cold in South Africa and North Africa respectively.
However, almost all the countries in Africa had passed through a form of political, social and economic subjugation by external forces from Europe, America and or Arabia. These include either colonialism or apartheid rule. These experiences of either colonialism or apartheid rule had a transforming effect on each country. This can be divided into the good, the bad and the ugly effects. The proportion of the good, the bad and the ugly effects in each country and indeed in the continent varied. These variations eventually determine the future success or failure of the country (Aluko, 2017; Aluko & Oluwadele, 2023; Edo, Matthew & Ogunrinola, 2023).
This study is poised to reveal the level of development gap that is in Africa and the extent of work that is needed to be done in other to ensure that the gap is filled up within a systematic time frame. The methodology adopted uses the World Bank data since 2015 extrapolated to date. Nine (9) variables are randomly selected to express areas that need to be focused on for the development gap to be closed in Africa. These include access to finance, corruption, and social disorder as factors hindering development, firm ownership, infrastructure, technology innovation, trade, workforce and general performance.