#AfricaMonth: Support Africa's young innovators and entrepreneurs
How do we best describe the current narrative on Africa and how can we amplify the positive stories from the continent to encourage a more positive narrative?
How do we best describe the current narrative on Africa and how can we amplify the positive stories from the continent to encourage a more positive narrative?Not too long ago, Africa was generally described as the “hopeless and helpless continent”. But now here is clear and palpable awareness of a great wind of transformational change sweeping across the continent. Yes, ‘Africa is rising’, more so as innovative youth in many African countries come to grasp with the notion that the future of the continent is in their hands. But we must be very careful to not be carried away by the joy of the successes achieved so far in the continent, but rather realise that it is only a beginning of the learning process.
A lot still needs to be done to position the continent in her rightful position in the international sphere. It is important that all governments of African countries build on the recorded achievements of notable leaders and continue to provide the enabling environment for the efforts of the youth to thrive and bear further fruit.
African innovators and entrepreneurs, and there are quite many of these, need to be encouraged, supported and incentivised to reach their optimal potential. Importantly, we Africans need to tell our story by ourselves because nobody can know us more, or better, than we know ourselves. Lots of interesting events take place regularly in remote areas of the continent, but these often fail to get reported because they do not attract the attention of the international press or reporters.
As a leader on this continent who travels widely and participates in many forums and discussions on Africa, what gives you hope for the future?
As a leader on this continent who travels widely and participates in many forums and discussions on Africa, what gives you hope for the future?When I travel around this continent and speak with the youth, I feel these young people have come to terms (or are doing so) with the need to develop homegrown remedies for the challenges of the continent. I refer to the famous watch phrase: “African solutions for Africa’s problems”. Many young women have approached me to tell stories of diversified initiatives and multiple ideas of things they try to do. This is quite impressive and promising because according to a famous proverb which states that “constant practice makes perfect”, one may only hope to succeed in any given endeavour by trying.
In the same light, it is quite encouraging to see numerous activities, even in rural areas on the continent, that focus on devising solutions to the local problems relevant in the peculiar environment, especially in the agricultural and energy sectors. Realising and accepting that “imported remedies” may not always match or solve the needs of the local people is the primary and essential step towards finding the effective, safe and sustainable solutions to those problems.
What are some of the challenges we need to urgently address to provide jobs for our largest population demographic, the youth, in Africa?
What are some of the challenges we need to urgently address to provide jobs for our largest population demographic, the youth, in Africa?I will continue to emphasise that the best way forward for the youth of Africa is to cultivate and develop the entrepreneurial spirit: passing from the mindset of job seekers to that of employers of labour or job creators. Obviously not everyone who tries will succeed, but it is important to develop and grow the mindset of risk-taking. And one should not be discouraged by a failure in the first attempt as this is only a lesson on how not to do the same thing a second time.
