When Africa dreams!
The future is Africa. There is no denying the fact. It stares us in the face and Africans have the opportunity to boldly lead the world phenomenally or mess and humiliate itself spectacularly.
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Developed nations are very skeptical of Africa’s intentions, if there is and the trajectory we will ultimately decide to lean on.
According to the United Nations (UN), by 2050, Africa’s population will be a quarter of the world, it will be the fastest growing as well.
The median age for Africa by 2050, according to the UN will be 25 years, way below the global median age of 36 years.
This will present Africa with a human resource like none other in the world. Manpower will reside in Africa, however, will knowledge, technology, intelligence, wealth, power, influence also rest with the Africa people?
The World Bank earlier on in the year launched the “global shared vision” in which it seeks to end extreme poverty by 2030 and also to boost prosperity for the bottom 40% of the population in developing nations.
According to an Oxfam report in 2014, titled, “Even It Up”, the richest 85 people in the world control as much wealth as the bottom 50 per cent of the world or more than 3.5 billion people.
Development plan
The African Union also recently launched the “Agenda 2063”, which seeks to build a prosperous and united Africa based on shared values and a common destiny.
In Ghana, the National Development Planning Commission has initiated a 40 year development in which it aims at presenting a clear cut vision and developmental plan for Ghana before it reaches its 100th year.
In Cote d’Ivoire, there has recently been a launch of an expansion of its Abidjan harbour worth $2.5 billion, due to be completed in 2020. This will make it the port with the largest capacity in West Africa.
According to the World Bank, among the six fastest growing economies in Africa for 2015 are Rwanda, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Tanzania and Ethiopia, all growing above seven per cent per annum.
Africa’s development has not been consistent and most of the times at the mercy of the ruling political party.
At this year’s Vodafone African SME Summit, we will be seeking to ask and answer the key issues of who should be leading Africa’s developmental plan and who should be dreaming for Africa’s unborn generation? Should it be left with the political elite, the media, the religious bodies or the business community?
There is the need for a teeming intelligent, honest, truthful, smart and ambitious class who are totally married to Africa’s future that they cannot negotiate with corrupt leaders and individuals.
I urge you to participate in the discussions and be passionate about it as well. When we dream of Africa, we dream for our children, we pass on possibilities to a generation which will bear witness to our pride and we comfort the world that the future is secured.
Building and developing global brands, launching ambitious projects to inspire our people and the world, promoting a philosophical shift for the world, negotiating for world peace, demanding accountability and establishing systems that work, are a must for African businesses.
Africa’s development model will be different, it will not rest with its political establishments, rather with its business. As the world moves faster in establishing artificial intelligence, China becoming the next big global power, Europe’s population aging and America at a crossroads on its next move. Africa, has an advantage.
After going through the industrial revolution, information age, we are now at the frontiers of the SMART GENERATION. Will you be part of that? — GB
