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The Primacy of People’s Socio-Economic Issues as Antecedents of Sustainability Framing in Africa

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Management and Leadership for a Sustainable Africa, Volume 1

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in African Leadership ((PSAL))

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Abstract

The concept of sustainability appears remote to economically disadvantaged people in Africa. Their immediate concerns are survival issues as opposed to futuristic, idealistic and distant concepts not immediately relatable to them. This conceptualisation alienates the majority at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid. Studies indicate that poor people pursue survival priorities ahead of other nebulous and abstract concepts. This chapter posits that the current sustainability conceptualisation does not resonate with millions of poor people in Africa, necessitating a rethink of the meaning of sustainability and its practical manifestations, particularly for those in Africa. The chapter raises pertinent questions on the role of sustainability leadership in helping bring to life the concept of sustainability, and the provision of requisite frameworks, supporting mechanisms and resources, to enable the socio-economically marginalised populations of Africa to engage with sustainability in ways that resonate with their day-to-day priorities and contexts.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Tabani Ndlovu

  2. GARD Division, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Sihle Ndlovu

Authors
  1. Tabani Ndlovu
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  2. Sihle Ndlovu
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Correspondence to Tabani Ndlovu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria

    Kemi Ogunyemi

  2. Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Isoko LGA, Nigeria

    Oreva Atanya

  3. Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Barcelona, Spain

    Vanessa Burgal

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Ndlovu, T., Ndlovu, S. (2022). The Primacy of People’s Socio-Economic Issues as Antecedents of Sustainability Framing in Africa. In: Ogunyemi, K., Atanya, O., Burgal, V. (eds) Management and Leadership for a Sustainable Africa, Volume 1. Palgrave Studies in African Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04911-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04911-8_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-04910-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-04911-8

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