As far back as I can remember, we have always been regarded as a developing continent and decades on we are still referred to as a" developing continent" even though through those years we had been receiving financial aid.
Growing up in Africa's most populous nation Nigeria, I quickly realized our reliance on western support- on every aspect of our- governance. On several occasions, we had to only put forward candidate that had western endorsement. This idea was mainly to satisfy- the west . An attempt to find favour and support during governance.
We need to take charge of our own future and begin to divert our attention inwards. Our own policies should reflect the cry and the need of our own people. We as Africans need to put ourselves at the top of the agenda and not seek endorsement from developed nations. We the youth of Africa are the future and the back bone of our continent and should begin to liberalize our minds. We should begin to emancipate ourselves from the third world mentality and reflect the true strength of Africans I.e. it's people, culture and it's abundance of resources .
Enough has been said by analysts of the immense wealth of- natural resources' that we as a continent and individual nations possess. We have the availability of raw materials and a vast amount of human resources' to drive our economy into abundance and sustainable development.-
For any economy to grow, there should be a change in it's policies to stimulate growth. This policies should lie at the centre of public advantage. It is important that our leaders understand- that our most reliant asset is the people. Nobody understands our needs than ourselves so it's important that our leaders listen genuinely to the voice of- it's people.- A genuine need for politicians to affect the people and bring a change would instigate policies which align with the need of it's citizens and thereby facilitate growth and development. It's evident that in extreme cases where the people feel unheard and marginalized, there is bound to be chaos and uprisings. For example, the people of the Niger delta region of Nigeria has constantly been advocating for a change in the allocation of oil revenue and also the developmental benefits associated with mining in the area. Due to the extreme mining going on the region, the area has been subjected to constant environmental degradation. Nothing much has been done so far about the need of the people and this has lead to the constant kidnap of oil workers in the region.
This scenario reflects what happens in most parts of Africa where it's people feel neglected and marginalized.- There can never be sustainable growth- and development if all we spend out time talking about is how to- end conflict.
It strikes me to see that one of the world's major oil producing country Nigeria still suffer from huge unemployment, and high level of poverty.- Most of- the countries in Africa are enriched with raw materials that could sustain and bring them out of poverty.- For Africa to put it's resources' into good use, we need to tackle corruption. This is one of the most terrible vice that has crippled Africa for decades and I believe it's high time we eradicate this act. The effect of this is seen in all level of governance and has eaten deep into the system. The mismanagement and looting of our public money has drained Africa of it's pride and economical development. As a young African, I believe it is left for us the future of Africa to begin to take our place in the affairs of our continent and respective countries. It is time we see ourselves as the solution to the vicious circle to power recycle. We need to restructure our continents as one with true unity and common goal which is to pull Africa out of the dumps to it's place of economic independence where it belongs.
We should reject the old ways and emancipate ourselves from the mental slavery the previous generation has been subjected to. In my opinion our continent has suffered enough of the tribalism and nepotism that has deprived us of our pride and glory. I believe in Africa and it's people and the limitless opportunity it holds.
