The battle for Africa is real! However, talented and creative people on the continent are missing the opportunity to provide real leadership for our collective ambition. We don't just need successful entrepreneurs, we need "Unlikely Leaders" who will drive and protect our future!
A lot of creative, well educated & smart folks are either busy building own empire or criticising the continent. We have less people working in our collective interest. Africa is at a different phase in its evolution. We need people who will be obsessed about building the future!
Building businesses won't be enough. A lot of the problems we face are wicked problems & they will need dedication for us to crack them. However, if we crack them in sustainable ways - we can leapfrog & become the hotspot for growth in the world. We can become super competitive!
Businesses won't be enough to create the sustainable platforms and structure needed to address some of our serious challenges. Govts across the continent are also not agile or structured to lead. We need great leaders within and outside of govt to lead on some of these challenges
We also shouldn't leave the agenda on how to develop our most prized assets (young people) in the hands of people from outside of the continent. We need to take ownership - lead and inspire the future we desire through young people!
Every time i hangout with folks from the west, I see people who aren't necessarily collectively smarter than folks in Africa. However, I see people with dedication & opportunity to focus. These society have created opportunity & incentive for their people to focus if they desire
With dedication and focus comes expertise. With expertise comes competitive edge. Internet may help to democratise access to knowledge, which doesn't necessary imply competitive expertise. We need to protect our future by consciously creating opportunities for young Africans.
