About the Programme

What makes this program unique in contrast to many other programs offered in African institutions of higher learning is that it is very specific about the need to promote and defend African interests and etch out a niche for the continent in global politics. This is achieved by premising the study on African ideas and institutions and highlighting the role that Kemet 3200-332BC (ancient Egypt) played in creating unique ideas about government, economics and implementing them successfully at national and international levels.

Kemet initiated the concept of centralised authority and transformed the Nile valley from food gathering to food production. This civilisation also addressed most of the issues of critical importance in the present day world. It made contributions in Physics, chemistry, biology, geology, applied maths, medicine, pharmacology, surgery, astronomy and geometry and cultural contributions in writing, literature and art. In fact, there is no fundamental issue which the current global political leadership addresses which Kemet did not address and the answers which Kemet came up with are just as good as those the leadership has come up with.

It should be noted that European thought which continues to receive so much attention is premised on Kemetic thought and that Asian thought which emerges about 1400BC and focusing on hierarchical society and intelligent pursuit of interests actually reinforces Kemetic thought. When Alexander of Macedonia conquered ancient Egypt in 332BC in order to study and capture ancient Egyptian civilisation he built the city of Alexandria as a centre of learning, stacked 200 000 volumes in the main library and 45 000 volumes in a smaller library. Scholars from Europe and Asia came to ancient Egypt where they received the benefits of Kemetic civilisation the oldest civilisation on planet earth.

Following on the ancient Egyptian example, the program examines international relations by focusing on organisations that Africans have created specifically to locate continental interests more successfully in global dynamics namely Southern African Development Community, Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community, Economic Community of West African States and the African Union. The philosophy which informs the creation of these organisations is pan-Africanism, out of which have flowed other philosophies such as Afrocentricity and Ubuntu with the same purpose of promoting and defending African interests.

The program also examines organisations created and controlled by non-Africans, such as the United Nations and its Agencies, the European Union, the North American Free Trade Area and others. This is done to clarify how these organisations promote non-African interests and the challenges Africans have to address to extract resources from these organisations to promote their interests.

Entry Requirements

To be admitted to the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in International Relations candidates must possess:

• Passes with credit in at least five GCE Ordinary Level subjects including English Language
• At least two GCE Advanced Level/High School or equivalent passes preferably History and Business studies and approved equivalent qualifications in the applicants’ countries of origin.

Mature Entry:

• Applicants must be at 25 years or above at the time of application
• Applicants must have obtained 5 ‘O’ Level subjects including English and History
• Applicants must have demonstrated their suitability for university studies by attaining of additional qualification or relevant work experience
• Applicants should normally have completed their school or college studies at least five years prior to admission.