WTO MOCK SUMMIT IN BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

WTO MOCK SUMMIT IN BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO The World Trade Organisation is perhaps the most powerful international organisation ever formed in modern history of human society. It is a bulldog which bites and let not you go until you follow its direction. It is an organisation to monitor and regulate global trade relations of the contemporary chaotic neo-liberal globalisation. Whereas it is an international organisation, but it has assumed a power of a global Government with Legislative, Executive and Judicial instruments to intervene even in national domestic policies of member states. Again, its instrument of power goes beyond trade to other global economic relations such as of investment, intellectual property and services. Its style of management of global economic relationships is not very democratic, especially for weaker economies in the system. Nevertheless it has structures of governance which has defined the functions and responsibilities of each body. The highest organ is the minestrial conference which meets every two years. Since the formation of WTO in January, 1995 in a sort of transition from GATT, after Uruguay Round of negotiation, Minesterial Conferences were held in Singapore; Geneva; Seattle; Doha; Cancun and the last was in Hong Kong. The Minesterial Conference brings all trade ministers of member countries together to review the major resolutions and or Agreements of the previous meeting and take major decisions again for the next two years. Just to restate, the stronger economies are more influential and have greater say in the conference. That is why there is always mention of the quad i.e. United States of America, European Union, Canada and Japan as those who wield great power of final decision in the Minesterial Conference. In the First Semester of 2004/2005 session, in class of POL 4301 Military and Politics, my students got in sleepless debate trying to come to grip with post-modern perspectives and theories on militarism and militarization. One perspective came as the management of global trade in current era of globalisation. The interest in this is generated during the debate on how countries in the developing world are often compelled to respect WTO rules and regulations even if not in the interest of their national economies. Secondly, we noted from theoretical point of view that all economic relationships whether in the past, today or in future must also be explained by understanding the usage of force. In our researches on global economic relationships we became very keen on this. And we developed a theatrics demonstrations with example of the WTO minesterial conference – still as a class work. It became so impressive as a class work that we all agreed to perform the same thing in public. So from class exercise it now evolved as a big event celebrated on the campus every Academic Session. Now, three times: - 2004/2005 session - 2005/2006 session - 2006/2007 session By the time of writing this report I and some dedicated students – Umar Danjuma; Shehu Haruna; Lawi Isa Abdullahi; Sani Sabiu; and Abba Talba – of the WTO mock summit met and reviewed what happened in 2006/2007 and set the agenda for 2007/2008 preparations. It is easy to see that as a result of the interest the WTO mock summit generated among students of political science I was put under pressure to introduce teaching programmes on WTO, so I have already turned POL. 3314 politics of development and underdevelopment as a study of the politics and economics of WTO. It is true that the mock summit is receiving positive recognition from students in other Departments. Now, I have long list of students from sociology; mass communication; education; botany; etc. who are coming everyday showing willingness to participate. Thus, making great contribution both as actors and in the organising committee. The recognition is even clearer outside the circle of those who directly participate. On the campus, after each performance it is the subject of discussion and appreciation wherever you see a group of students. This spread to other campuses of Nigerian Universities, to immediate environment here in Kano and parents who see the Video with their sons and daughters on the stage sent message of appreciation to me in giving exposure to their children. One of them said is not regretting sending his daughter to Bayero University, Kano. The stage of the performance includes many facilities such as conference chairs and tables, a power generating machine, digital camera instruments, a microphone system, electronic media coverage instruments, etc. We have to acquire all these to be able to perform according to minimum standard but has always been a problem. The National Association of Political Science Students, Bayero University Kano Chapter which hosts the play is every year very reluctant to provide adequate funding for this purpose. From broader perspective of education the benefits derived from the mock summit are many; 1. Students, especially of the Department of Political Science have discovered new area of social inquiry and following with keen interest with many research output on politics and economics of WTO. 2. Because a lot of information on WTO are sourced online and students are normally sent to search for this or that about WTO, now many of them have become independent researchers. 3. From theoretical perspective, my student’s horizon on global politics and global economic relations has increased such that they can compete with any other undergraduate students in any Nigerian University. 4. Finally students who are actors in the summit are gloriously celebrating the exposure they are receiving and which is making their lives as students different. 5. Whereas there are many difficulties along the way, but with courage we are determine to carry on and this will undoubtedly raise the name of the University in Nigeria. 6. Accordingly we intend that in future performance with access to the right facilities the performance will be televised alive. M. M. Yusif Department of Political Science Bayero University, Kano April, 2008 NAME OF 2004/2005 PARTICIPANTS 1. Adamu Fate Jigawa Chairman 2. Sani Maishanu Director-General 3. Ya’u Balangu Representative of USA 4. Abdulkadir Baba “ Canada 5. Hambali Mohammed “ E.U 6. Hafsat Yakasai “ India 7. Eric Dinsheya “ Brazil 8. Abubakar Sadiq “ Zimbabwe 9. Musa Yarima “ Agro-allied interest 10. Sani Abba “ MIC 11. Hauwa Chinedu “ Textiles 12. Sulayman Daura “ Chairman Human Right Communities 13. Others are Aminu Yarima; Musa Igwo; Sani Custom; Danlami Utem; Hadi Terror; Bashir Yusuf; Nura Cowboy NAMES OF 2005/2006 PARTICIPANTS 1. Musbau O. Abdulazeez Chairman 2. Dimas Garba Director-General 3. Abdulrashid Ibrahim European Union 4. Zakariya M. Zakari USA 5. Murtala Yusif Canada 6. Jafaru Ibrahim Japan 7. Badomasi Saidu Singapore 8. Kabiru Mohammed Abdul China 9. Babangida Yusif Chile 10. Abdullahi Abubakar Rimi South Korea 11. Kabiru Idris Yakasai Philippine 12. Ahmad Tijjani Yusif Pakistan 13. Halima Ali Bashir India 14. Bushra Jibril Yakasai Venezuela 15. Tasiu Mohammed Dangulbi Cuba 16. Kamal Auwal Mexico 17. Aliyu Jamilu Brazil 18. Aminu Audi Argentina 19. Yusif Mohammed Sani Cameroon 20. Aliyu Mohammed Ardo Nigeria 21. Nuraddeen Aminu South Africa 22. Ibrahim Musa Textile corporate interest 23. Martins Akinlabi ICT 24. Yusuf Abdulkadir Military Industrial Complex 25. Aliyu Yero Media Coverage 26. Ibrahim Muazu Medial Coverage 27. Nura Iro Maaji Human Right Activists 28. Yahaya Mohammed Goga Security 29. Kabiru Ahmad Protested Kumbotso and Co. NAMES OF 2006/2007 PARTICIPANTS 1. Ibrahim musa Chairman 2. Aliyu Yero Director-General 3. Aliyu Jamilu Canada 4. Halima Ali Bashir USA 5. Jafar Ibrahim European Union 6. Ahmad Aliyu Japan 7. Zainab Ahmad Pakistan 8. Musa M. Inuwa Zimbabwe 9. Inusa Yakubu Cuba 10. Grace I. Ojo Brazil 11. Umar Danjuma Mexico 12. Sale Jigawa Chile 13. Sani Ismail Cameroon 14. Murtala Garba Mohammed Egypt 15. Tijjani Ismail China 16. Shehu Lawal Argentina 17. Yusuf Mohammed Sani South Africa 18. Aminu Ali Kabir Philippines 19. Abba A. Talba Hong Kong 20. Bilkisu India 21. Ismail Galadima Observer-UN 22. Maitala Isiya Observer-IMF 23. Observer-WB 24. Yusuf Abdulkadir Observer-MIC 25. Auwal Abubakar Observer-Textiles and Clothing 26. Uzairu Garki Chairman GFT Commission 27. Aminu Audi Chairman Agriculture Commission 28. Kabir Nasir Hassan Chairman Trips Commission 29. Hamza Marafa Chairman TRIMS Commission 30. Ahmed Tijjani Chairman Textiles and Clothing 31. Ali Ismail Gwadabe Chairman Human Right 32. Rashida Umar Chairman SPS Commission 33. Maimuna Aliyu Babangida Malaysia