Omo, make I yan you wetin the big madam, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, talk for Ahmadu Bello University last week. She don yarn say Africa no dey fit sit down dey wait for foreign aid again like beggar for road. Na time for us to package ourselves as the main event for global investment and trade!
Okonjo-Iweala, wey be Director-General of World Trade Organisation, sabi how all dis global wahala fit turn to power for Africa. She dey boost our spirits as she remind us say we get plenty talented young people wey sabi hustle and markets wey fit help drive economic growth. She even call dis moment a “window of opportunities” wey we no suppose miss, no be like the times wey we don lose chances before.
For the lecture wey she deliver on January 30, she talk how global disruptions like the one wey come from China and America don show say e no good to put all your eggs for one basket. If we sabi diversify our supply chains, we fit stand to gain plenty as we dey go enter “re-globalisation” era. She dey front for renewable energy talk; imagine say Africa get about 60 percent of the world’s solar energy potential but only dey collect 2 percent investment. Na wah!
She no just stop there o! She dey hammer say we need to start manufacturing our own solar and wind technology instead of just importing am. This one go create jobs for our youths, make dem fit chop belleful. She dey talk some numbers, believe me, we gats start to develop our own industries! E get plenty arable land for Africa and minerals wey dey ground wey fit support this energy transition wey di whole world dey push.
So, wetin we go do now? Okonjo-Iweala dey call on African leaders make dem step up their game. Make dem create beta investment climate wey go attract foreign investors to come set up factories and plants for here. By 2050, we go dey represent about 25 percent of the global working-age population. Imagine the kind future we fit build if we fit harness all that energy and talent!
No forget say she not just talk with mouth; she put the groundwork for Nigeria as Finance Minister before, so she sabi wetin she dey talk. This woman wey dey carry Africa for her head, she dey remind us say the choices we make today fit decide if Africa go shine for global economy or dey on the sidelines like bench warmer.
So make we gather ourselves, shine our eyes, and take action before this opportunity pass us by like bus wey don dey leave dem bus stop. We gats make sure our voices dey heard, especially the youth. Dis na our time to demand for accountable leadership, because without am, e no go better for us.
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