JONAED

The economic performance of most African countries is presently rated poor. Consequently, this scenario becomes worrisome, hence requires an urgent need towards providing the best strategy for reversing the current status of developing African countries. The position of this paper is that regional integration which is the process by which two or more nation-states agree to cooperate and work closely to achieve peace, stability and wealth should provide the best strategy. This claim is further supported by elucidating the benefits of regional integration which include lowering, and possibly eliminating barriers to trade, achieving cross-border cooperation and increasing the well-being of citizens of member states. The paper further argues that labour mobility is a constant possibility from countries within and between poor/rich capital and rich/poor labour force. The Neoclassical economic and Human Capital Theories are employed to critically discuss the role of education as an essential instrument adopted by the society (as a rational actor) for equipping the citizens (human capital) for future societal benefits. Based on these premises and upholding education as an instrument per excellent for the development of society, this position paper upholds that African nations, especially West Africa, should extend their regional integration efforts beyond economic boundaries to include integration of educational institutions, especially higher education. This effort will, no doubt, encourage the flow of ideas, knowledge and the development of more qualified and well equipped human capital who could drive the economy of the developing West African nations.