The paper examines the place and condition of Africa in the global economic index and the imperative to shift the narrative by way of changing course from the present sordid reality. The dominant absence of development in the continent remains a sore point which contemporary issues in a globalized world have further accentuated by reaffirming the continent as a laggard within the international political system. The study relied on secondary and tertiary sources for data. The study submits that despite the prospects for a more robust and sustainable contribution of the continent to the world economy, it has been unable to compete favourably in the global marketplace or even at the intra-states level within the continent because of the absence of the requisite political will and comprehensive road map to end the cycles of bad governance and economic crisis which has held the continent down for ages. Hence, this study calls on the African leaders to ensure that Agenda 2063 is vigorously implemented and thus making Africa both competitive and not falling into the tepidness which was the lot of previous continental initiatives.

Though this book is ancient, it is apposite to state that the prognosis offered by the author is as relevant today as when it was first published. Nigeria, like many African countries was birth with much hope in the aftermath of independence in 1960. However, the initial hope was dashed when the country was plunged into a series of political turbulence which dovetailed into a civil war in 1967. The war was instigated by a combination of factors such as ethnic suspicion, intolerance and tussle for political power and supremacy. Alexander Madiebo's book is an appreciable account of the run of play leading to the civil war, the civil war itself and its aftermath. The author of the book was a soldier that actively participated in the crisis leading to the civil war (1967)(1968)(1969)(1970) and the war itself. The book is all about the triumph and travails of a young nation and how centrifugal tendencies has continued to undermine national cohesion even in the post-civil war era.Though he started from the Nigerian Army, he ended up bearing arms against the Nigerian state without much of a choice, according to him and validated by the events leading to the war. From the book, he confirms the futility and brutality of war in retrospect. In discussing, war time life in Biafra, he narrated a tale of woes and destruction, yet sustained by hope. An episode filled with anguish and pains, as well, as some measure of successes of the illfated republic but Biafran was a republic that didn't endure. He highlighted his roles and painted a picture of an eye witness account. For him, the start point, was the first military coup of January 15 January 1966 and other episode only came to re-affirm or vitiate that event. That event was the trigger and enabler of other events that led to the civil war. The

This paper examines the 1991 Gulf War and how it contributed to the development of the art of war since the dawn of the post-Cold War realities. The 1991 Gulf War was a war waged by a coalition force of 40 nations led by the United States of America (USA) against Iraq in response to Iraq’s invasion and subsequent annexation of Kuwait, arising from oil pricing and production disputes. This article seeks an explanation for how the Gulf War has contributed to the art of war by explaining how the Napoleonic strategy of quick and decisive victory was used in the operation. This strategy contrast sharply with the intention of Iraq for a sustained all-drawn-out war, which is meant to wear out their opponents. The article analyses the further consequences of this conceptual clash in military doctrine. It explains that the contrast between both concepts and especially the western military culture for fighting wars was the decisive element in the Gulf War. In carrying out this research, secondary sources were consulted and used accordingly. The research findings show the contribution of the 1991 Gulf War to the increasing complexities of war. The war further demonstrated the validity of the collective security system as the coalition forces were able to restore Kuwait’s sovereignty. In addition, the study is relevant as it exposed the challenges posed by warfare and the vulnerabilities it poses in inter-state relations and on the international system.