I was so shocked to see another African taking his skills, resources and opportunity to build a new Africa as I like to call it, following the foot-steps of well known African philanthropist such as the likes of Mo-Ibrahim of Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Over and above I was happy to add to my list of Africans who are creating ripples to the continents issues. As the list is growing day by day with the increase in new shift of Africans trying to empower the continent and build an entrepreneurial spirit and a new Africa.
Reading through the Tony Elumelu Foundation's activities, It made me start question the possibility of a new Africa. An Africa that is moving away from the dependency syndrome of the western countries to an Africa that is coming up with homegrown solutions to solve it current economic and leadership challenges and the emergence of new African role models such as Richard Turere, Lupita Nyongo, Joshua Siaw, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie, Ashish Thakkar and the likes of William kamkwamba. I must mention that although Africa is the origin of all life, its styles, cultures, economies, nature, and people have long been underestimated and overlooked. However, Africa is gradually overcoming its challenges and, today, is ripe with opportunity and promise. Africa is on the rise.
Let’s take a closer look at the entrepreneurial Africa as a whole for instance. With the likes of institutions such as Tony Elumelu Foundation in Nigeria, Unreasonable Eastafrica in Uganda, African Entrepreneur Collective in Rwanda, Anzisha Prize in South Africa and the Growth Hub in Kenya etc, We are starting to see young Africans such as Mr. Mupuya Andrew of Yeli Paper Bags in Uganda not only creating a source of lively-hood to his fellow youths and Africans but also in a small way help create employment to the over 200 million people aged 15 to 24 years in Africa who about 60% of them are unemployed youths.
I also totally concur with what Alan Kasujja says: "....... I'm aware that Africa's had big dreams before. Nearly 60 years ago our leaders promised that independence would bring wealth and stability. It didn't. But a new African generation is working from the premise that it's the grassroots that matter most". an extract from BBC: My Africa: The competing visions of Africa's future.
Lastly, do you agree that "the young people in Africa are taking more control of their futures, and that they all believe that the new Africa requires a completely different mind-set to that of their parents' generation? that a new Africa is rising?". I would love to hear you thoughts on this.
Image from http://teenentrepreneur.co.za/teen-entrepreneurship-olympiad-2014/
