Africa, now is the time for action

Such meetings that attract the world’s brilliant minds come and go with very minimal impact apart from well written spicy communiques released at the end of the meetings.

For three days from Wednesday to yesterday the delegates were busy discussing the ills blocking Africa’s march towards prosperity. They also discussed ways and means of helping the continent realise its goals of making it an economic powerhouse.

Organisers of the meeting, the World Economic Forum, a think tank based in Geneva, Switzerland, felt the need to review the role of Africa in a global economy that is becoming increasingly characterized by machine learning rather than manpower, and where economic prosperity is built on the knowledge and ingenuity of people rather than natural resources.

After all the discussions and presentations Africa needs to rethink how it can move forward. Convening under the theme, ‘Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation,’ the discussions in Kigali sought to identify priorities and actions for Africa’s leaders as they look to build economies resilient to today’s challenges and able to flourish in the increasingly digital, convergent marketplaces of tomorrow.

The theme of the annual meeting was ‘Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution.’

But the big questions are: could Africa master the Fourth Industrial Revolution against the backdrop of its deteriorating education system that is churning out unskilled workforce?

Could the African continent forge ahead with political leaders whose personal interests are to fill their pockets with billions of dollars that they acquire through corrupt means? The list is long.

To borrow the words of our sister Elsie Kanza, a Tanzanian representing Africa at the World Economic Forum headquarters in Geneva, the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents a unique opportunity to build stronger, fairer, more prosperous societies, but this can only be achieved through strong institutions, greater regional integration and investment in key areas such as infrastructure, education and industry.

Looking at the current state of affairs of the continent’s infrastructure, education and industries, Africans, it can rightly be stated here, have a long way to go. In order to get prepared for the industrial revolution, Africa needs to overhaul its education system.

Africa needs an education system that will produce scientists, engineers and mathematicians who will propel this continent to prosperity.

It is time Africa invested in its people to make them the basis for national development as opposed to depending on natural resources and underdeveloped agriculture.

Africa needs a skilled workforce that will help it revolutionize its deteriorating agriculture, described as the backbone of its economy, and add value to its raw materials by exporting processed products to fetch higher earnings.

African countries need to work together, forgetting their colonial boundaries and addressing their common threats which are holding back the continent of over one billion inhabitants.

The message from the just-ended World Economic Forum in Rwanda is that Africa can turn its pathetic situation around if it can seize the opportunities that lie therein.

Africa needs to rethink, and the time for rethinking is now. The time for action is NOW.