Growing interest in Africa, should be based on win-win partnership. Changing our narrative

Changing our narrative, putting digital at the Core

 
In 2009 through my MBA global module at Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa, I visited China, Asia’s powerhouse.  I was so naive, and wanted to understand what made this country as power house.  As we continued with engagement with academic, business and government institutions, I leant about their National 100 year plan on Africa.  The longest plan that I know is 10 year long, but 100 years!.  Our countries national development plans do not even demonstrate that forward thinking.  China plan focused more on infrastructure development, and commodities.   I was not comfortable; this had really left a dark mark in my heart.  As I visit many african countries, I see the realization of that plan, unfortunately the story is not good.

In 2012, I participate in a fellowship programme offered by the US Department of state, aimed to build relationship and expose future leaders on ways of working with the US.  The big question is why these powerhouses keep showing interest in our Africa.  What do they see that we haven’t realised about ourselves. Is it talent, commodities, Why this growing interest.
President Obama, put it nicely that
We don’t look to Africa simply for its natural resources; we recognize Africa for its greatest resource, which is its people and its talents and their potential. We don’t simply want to extract minerals from the ground for our growth; we want to build genuine partnerships that create jobs and opportunity for all our peoples and that unleash the next era of African growth. That’s the kind of partnership America offers. 
President Trump is changing the above narrative.

 Russia claims that they are not interested in Africa for its mineral assets by other goods produced by Africa countries.   This now makes Africa an equal player.

This is how Africans should position themselves, as equal players. We as Africans are looking for a win-win partnership, not what we have experienced in the past 1000 years, everyone coming to take.  Big question is how we change this narrative as Africans, we need to understand that we have so much to offer in terms of talent, resources and product and services.  We are coming to an era where we will be able to bypass corrupt leaders, and biased policies by leveraging the power of technology and digital innovation.  Our story is changing so is our new history.  We should not be off-guard with the advent on the Fourth Industrial revolution.  We have enough intellectual property to win at this game

#AfricaLead, #MakingAfricaWork, #OpenForDoingBusiness #WecandoSomethingAboutIT

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