Economic integration: Necessary condition for development in Africa

Economic integration in post-independent Africa remains a pervading challenge. It is of scholarly interest that various African states are revisiting the ideals of economic integration, with renewed vigour. Part of the steps taken is the replacement of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established in 1963 as the continental apex organisation for achieving the objectives of political and economic emancipation, with the African Union(AU) andthe adoption of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) as a core programme. The question is whether progress is being made and targets achieved. In this paper, an analytic attempt is made at appraising economic integration in Africa. The correlation between economic integration and development are also critically examined.