AGE FACTOR AS THE REASON FOR BAD LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA; MYTH OR FACT?

Despite speculations that Africa has been around before other continents, it remains in the third World category that come top in charts that speak such negativity like; high rate of Poverty, unemployment, insecurity, low Tech level, gender inequality, weak health system, Corruption  etc.

Quite a number of factors had been attributed to the ills, the chief reason being bad Leadership. The Leaders are often archaic, power drunk yet utterly ineffective, highly autocratic, having a sit-tight syndrome to power and especially old. Despite the fact that most of these African Countries are constitutionally binding on the maximum number of years presidents are supposed to be in power, the incumbent have either defied all odds to remain, disregarding the rule of law or simply amending the constitution to suit their selfishness. If availed all opportunities, an average leader in Africa wants to remain in power as long as he lives, not bothered if the citizens are at peace or not.

Ironically, as against the ineffective oldies that manages the helms of affair in Africa, there abound developed Nations outside this Continent that are effectively ruled by much older men/women, age neither a barrier nor posing a threat to their efficiency.

The President of United States of America, Donald Trump is 72 years Old and remains a valid example. Vladimir Putin of Russia is 66 years, then goes Theresa May, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who is 62 years old and the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a 63 year old leader also governing brightly.

 This is hard to find among the past and even present African leaders, with the exception of anti-apartheid revolutionary and South African Political Leader, Nelson Mandela and maybe a few others whose names remained on the sand of time. Quite a sizeable number of them bring nothing to their citizens but tears in the eyes. Mandela on the other hand despite the role he played presided for just five year tenure, 1994-1999 at the age of 75.     

Meanwhile, the South African’s 1996 constitution had allowed a second presidential term of another five years, but he did not attempt to re-contest let alone remove the limit for further stay; Mandela had planned to serve one term which he honorably did, age being a major factor and he remained the oldest man that South Africa, which is exceptionally a developed African country ever elected to lead them.

But for some other African Countries?

·        I’ll start out with the President of Chad, Idriss deby, 65 who has been governing since 1990 (29 years). Usually re-elected with a majority of votes every five years despite complain from the Citizens and for over one year now, he has ordered the shutdown of the country’s internet when the protest over his ‘reign’ heightened. The internet shutdown has clearly debarred the citizens from being able to stay abreast of information, not at least a face book or twitter access. Need anyone to reiterate the importance of internet in the present age? Chad which is known for its geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure and political turmoil, a Nation of Livestock herding with one of the highest level of hunger in the world with 87% of her population living below the poverty line.

Sad!

There are speculations that Deby has influenced the Parliament to allow him rule until 2033, clearly justifying the ‘sit-tight’ syndrome of African leaders. And now that he has succeeded in shutting out his people via inaccessible internet, there’s little to how exposed the populace can be to become knowledgeable of their Fundamental Human Right, hence seek International help.

·        Paul Biya is an Octogenarian, 86 years and the President of Cameroon since 1982 (36 years in office) having won a seventh term in office in polls marred by low turnout and voter intimidation. And even though his country is one of the most prosperous in Africa, due to the diversity of her Economy, from oil and gas to Timber and Aluminum as well as Agriculture, it is not far from being called a low income country too. Biya’s regime like his contemporaries is typically authoritarian, having swept the Executive and Legislative Powers under his carpet. He even has considerable authority over the Judiciary and the Court can only review the Constitutional Content of a Law solely at his request. This country also experienced about 230 days internet disruption last year, courtesy of the president.

·        Uganda is another Country that played host to a dictator for a President; Yoweri Museveni is a 73 year old Leader governing since 1986. Uganda suffers from high level of corruption, unemployment and poverty, and as she ranks as one of the poorest Countries in the World, Yoweri stands tall as one of the richest President in Africa, having earned ‘fat’ salaries and other benefits since the inception of his government. He is estimated to be worth $4 billion.

Despite the length of time he has ruled however, good life remains a mirage for Ugandans as he removed the Presidential age limit at 75. A move made solely in his favor while he’s touted to working on changing the constitution further to enable him contest in the next elections come 2021.

• Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo has been the President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, a position he assumed having ousted his Uncle in a Military Coup. An oil rich Nation of less than a million people, with a low debt rate profiting roughly $5 billion per year and an extremely fertile soil so no doubt a Country that should boom. Underneath these entire surface figures however, World Bank report stipulates that almost 80 percent of the population lives in poverty. And like a family affair kind of, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Nguema Obaing Mangue is the son of the president who has once been accused of money laundering in France, proceeds from the governance of himself and his father obviously. Unfortunately, only very few of the population have access to official information so many of his illicit activities goes on from him unchecked. President Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo is currently the longest consecutively serving non Royal National Leader in the World. His many atrocities however include; widespread Corruption, power abuse, incessant killings by security operatives, undue arrest of oppositions and their unlawful detentions etc. He also has the constitution designed to suit him so well that he has the right to rule by decree; this makes him a legal dictator. His effrontery too saw him giving himself such appellations like the boss, great Island of Bioko, etc.

•         60 year old Ali Bongo Odimba inherited powers from his father, Omar Bongo who died of cardiac arrest in 2009 after ruling for 42 years. And even before he took over the presidency, Ali Bongo was Minister of Foreign affairs under his father from 1989 to 1991 and the Defense Ministry too. Oil rich Gabon has its money put in Late President Omar Bongo’s pocket for the length of time he was alive, evidently from the way he lavished money by marrying lots of women across the globe to further show his affluence. He generally lived extravagantly while the populace remains in penury.  In the same vein, President Ali Bongo cannot be described as a fantastic leader too. The economic status quo remained same as it was during his father’s regime. And for over six months now, he has not been able to make any public appearance, no thanks to his ill health. He suffered a stroke in October, 2018 while away at Saudi Arabia for an event. Recuperating in Morocco until few weeks ago that he went back to Gabon for further medical attention. Well, a Military Coup to overtake power from him was thwarted in January 2018, and as if his ill health wasn’t enough shock for the people, speculations are rife that he was actually a Nigerian of Igbo descent but adopted in the 60s by the former president during the Biafrian War.

• ·        Faure Gnassingbe of Togo in 2005 also became President after the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema who was leader for 38 years. Meanwhile, Eyadema’s rule was marred by repression, cults from leadership until he died of Heart attack on board a plane at Tunisia. After his death, the Togolese Army declared his son the new President, a decision that was greeted with heavy criticisms from the citizens and bodies like ECOWAS. Faure subsequently stepped down for Bonfoh Abass, the first deputy Parliament Speaker until April 24, 2005 when a controversial Presidential Election eventually produced him the winner with 60% votes.  Very much like his father, he is power drunk too and one time shut down internet access to stop the people from reporting the country’s unrest, he even forced foreign Journalist out of the country to stop the news of his atrocities from spreading across the sea. However, 70 percent of the rural Togolese Community live below the poverty line, as expected. This is despite the abundance of Natural Resources in the Country of about 6 Million people. Having won elections in 2005, 2010 and 2015, he is touted to want to seek re election in 2020 over people who are not just hungry, but uneducated in droves and poor.  Protesters are however asking for the establishment of presidential term limits, which would force President Faure out of office at the end of his current term come 2020.

·        Isaias Afwerki who is 72 years old has been the president of Eritrea for 25 years. A stylish Dictator in that he claims to have a Freedom of Speech bill signed and in place, yet takes drastic measures towards limiting Press Freedom. He has stopped many attempts to hold an election, somehow violates Human Rights and a one party dictator.

·        72 year old Ismael Omar Guelle is the President of Djibouti, handpicked to succeed his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon who ruled since independence in 1977 but retired in Feb 4^th 1999. In 2005, six years after his first rule, Guella contested for an election that saw him being the sole contender, just because oppositions were intimidated and subsequently shut out. There was low voter turnout as well. Sworn in same year in April, despite Ismael’s twenty years in office, Djibouti remains a unitary Presidential Republic with Executive Power resting in the Presidency who then appoints the Prime Minister, among other unhealthy ways at which he dictates, as expected of an average African leader.

·        Mauritania is ruled by 62 year old Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, a former Military General that came into power having led a successful Coup in Aug, 2009. A dessert country and the last Nation to abolish slavery, the autocratic rule of the president might be over soon, as the country is set to go to the polls to vote a new leader that would succeed him in June.

·        For 14 years, Pierre Nkurunzizza has ruled Burundi and news presently coming from that country? He is set to seize the properties of oppositions and critics of his Government; two months ago he forced-shut the United Nations Office in Burundi which had been for 23 years. While writing this, I decided to inquire from a travel website if it was safe to visit Burundi and the response goes;

“Do not travel to Burundi, due to unpredictable security situation, potential for violent civil unrest, threat of terrorism and violent crime”

In June 2010 when he was to be elected, Pierre won 90% of the vote following the withdrawal of all six of his challengers, talking about intimidating opponents out of the race. Needless to say Burundians approved a referendum enabling him to stay in power till 2034, further deepening fears of authoritarianism and renewed ethnic conflicts as always.

Under the autocratic Leadership style of this 54 year old leader, Agric production which makes up the majority of the country’s export had dwindled among other fortunes that has further depleted. He seems not bothered about the survival of the masses and it appears that the sole mission of the government is to remain in power, doesn’t matter whose oz is gored.

•         President Muhammad Buhari of Nigeria, my home Country is 76 years old. Here goes a former Military Head of State that ruled as a 41 year old in 1983. And even though Nigeria practices what is referred to as Democratic system of Government, one cannot shy away from the fact that leadership is being recycled between certain crop of people who ruled us in their prime, only to stage a come-back to take over from where they left the Nation, even as they approach their grave. It all started with General Olusegun Obasanjo, a Military Head of State as a 39 year old in 1976 and was back at 62 in 1999 to rule for two-term tenure of eight years. As expected of an African Leader enmeshed in being power drunk, clearly having a sit tight syndrome even proposed to get a third term bid which was massively frustrated. No wonder President Buhari relentlessly contested thrice until he won. General Ibrahim Babangida towed the same path but won no primaries let alone being a flag bearer. This is not giving much credence to Senator s, House of Representative Members and those from other political seats that had either been the sole contender from their region, or been in one governing capacity or the other since my elementary school days; yet I’d been on this planet for a few years above three decades. People like Senator Abdullah Adamu, a 70 year old trending since 1977 and Senator Jeremiah Useni who is 76 just to mention a few. Chances are, General Sani Abacha might have been in power if he was alive till date.

Observing the age trend of past Nigerian leaders, the same set of people who would stop at nothing to obstruct a young lad from climbing up political ladders, ruled in their prime. From Ibrahim Babangida who was president as a 44 year old, to Tafawa Balewa at 45. A 42 year old Aguiyi Ironsi, Yakubu Gowon at 32, Murtala Mohammed was 38 years etc. The last Presidential elections in Nigeria saw Buhari 76 and 72 year old Atiku as top contenders. Reiterating the age factor in African Governance, many times President Buhari had been incoherent, hence the need for much younger persons in power. The internet has a lot of viral video interviews that saw him not being able to give constructive/intelligent responses to very sensitive issues. Melodramatic one being where he attributed the Inspector General of Police’s hard works to his lean stature. What if his inefficiency scares him to death so much that he begins to lose weight? Asides that, he is not always prompt to technical issues that needed agility and swiftness; this explains why he was nicknamed ‘go-slow’. An appellation he always admitted to by confirming that he is a slow reader as well as one who takes his time on everything. This is not ‘too-good’ a trait expected of someone that would lead a population of almost two hundred million people. President Buhari’s health is another one shrouded in so much mystery, the reality of which is that, he is not a hundred percent fit. One who had to seek medical help, soon after his swearing in for inner ear infection? And thereafter stayed for over a hundred days in a London Hospital to subsequent visits over undisclosed ailments?

Asides being aged and supposedly ineffective, he is surrounded by equally aged leaders from Nigeria’s minister of Defense, Abubakar salami who is 76, 63 years Minister of Foreign Affairs- Geoffrey Onyeama, and Adamu Adamu, a 62 year old Minister of Education. And the icing on the cake is the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh who is unrepentant and regularly talks bukum even on the international scenery. Nigerian would forget in a hurry the recession that we plunged into as soon as President Buhari came into power, one of the very few countries where power supply remains epileptic, child mortality remains at 201 births per 1000. Nigeria steadily battles gender inequality and has overthrown India as a country with the highest number of extremely poor people in the world. Almost hundred million Nigerians live in extreme poverty.

Meanwhile, Civilization playing a major role in deepening the knowledge of the people about their Fundamental Human Right, a few Countries in Africa which has previously been governed by dictators has now experienced a change of power. But the sad thing is that the ousted leaders has enmeshed their populace in so much penury and onward corruption that the incumbent clearly have a lot of ‘repairs’ to do, like;

·        SUDAN;     Previously governed by 73 year old Omar al Basher who had been in power since 1989 until recently ousted in April 11^th, 2019 and toppled by the Military. Elected three times as President in polls marred with irregularities and electoral related fraud, he was indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for directing a campaign of mass killing, genocide, war and other atrocities.  Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world too, with most of the population living under hard conditions.  The Transitional Military Council TMC is presently holding power though protesters have called for a swift transition to civilian rule. The African Union initially gave the Military 15 days to hand over power but extended the deadline to 60 days. Talks are underway anyways, but I hope the Sudanese becomes free from dictatorship this time.

·         ALGERIA; Previously ruled by power drunk Abdelaziz Bouteflika,  82 years old who was forced to resign in April 3^rd, 2019. Here goes a man confined to wheelchair since 2013 after suffering from a stroke hence rarely seen in public, yet he wants a fifth term in office. Save for his resignation, Abdelaziz even after being in office for two decades, aims to still govern despite the fact that his upper middle income Nation Algeria is being threatened by Economic disaster as her oil revenue sink, with an underlying economic hardship looming and youth unemployment at a staggering 29%. Saddening it is that her population is young and the average age is 28, with half the population younger than 25. A clear indication of how miserable the people would have been sinking under a never ending state of being unemployed. A Nation supposedly blessed with oil though, Abdelaziz was fond of propagating policies that weren’t sustained. The acting president being Abdelkader Bensalah, elections previously billed to hold in April has been postponed to 4^th of July, 2019.

·        ANGOLA; Former president Jose Eduardo Dos Santos took over power in September 1979, following the natural death of his predecessor in 2017 at age 76. The incumbent president of Angola being Joao Lourenco.  Jose only stepped down over health issues and did ran his government like it was his personal investment. His cousin was the vice president and his biological daughter the wealthiest female in the country holding political appointments as well.  Angola despite being a resource rich nation and the second largest oil producer in sub Saharan Africa to the United States is blessed with diamonds too. Yet almost 70 percent of her population lives below the poverty line of less than two dollars per day. There is free education, but of lesser value. Students are housed in dilapidated buildings that serve as their schools, frustrated teachers too with very minimal knowledge to pass across. The children supposedly malnourished and the rate of child and maternal death are high with life expectancy rate at an incredible age of 41.  Coupled with the high level of unemployment too, we can only hope that President Joao Lourenco will effect the needed change for the people.

CONGO; Erstwhile president of Congo, Joseph Kabila became president in January 2001 at the age of 29, ten days after the assassination of his father. He had ruled for 18 years having relinquished in Jan, 2019.  Joseph won the country’s 2006 presidential elections, re elected again in 2011 and despite stepping down for a new president; he would be a senator for life according to the constitution of that country. At 47, the fact that he ‘let-go’ of power quite peacefully is a good one and I clearly maintain that his age played a significant role in ensuring that he respects the people’s choice, disregarding the fact that his third term bid actually met with criticisms and oppositions. Unlike his father, president Laurent Desire Kabila who though ruled for nine years might have remained till now if he wasn’t assassinated by one of his body guards. Owing to his style of governance which was clearly authoritarian, pronto he had suspended the constitution, changed the name of the country from Zaire to the democratic Republic of Congo and even placed his leading opponent under house arrest. A staunch nepotistic too who favored his kinsmen for political appointments. 

·        ZIMBABWE; The popular Mugabeism propagated by Robert Gabriel Mugabe, former Prime Minister of Zimbabwe still rings a bell.  An octogenarian who ruled Zimbabwe from 1980-1987 as prime minister, and then president from 1987 to 2017. In as much as his name remains on the sand of time as a leader that helped to free Zimbabwe from British colonialism and the white minority rule,  in governance, he was accused of being a dictator, responsible for economic mismanagement, widespread corruption, anti white racism, human right abuses and crime against humanity. Forced to resign at age 93, part of his misdeeds was his refusal to amend the nation’s one party constitution. Under his rule, the country experienced high inflation, so bad civil servants ceaselessly went on strike for increase in their pay. He also self awarded pay rise for Government officials.  Zimbabwe, an impoverished rural nation has her economy in near ruins, famine, foreign debt and widespread unemployment under Mugabe, yet was bent on retaining his office by all means. So bad that in march 2008 when he allegedly lost the presidential election to Morgan Tsvangirai (the citizens clearly wanted a fresh hand) he was not willing to let go hence demanded a re-run, until his utterances and outburst that the latter would never rule as long as he lives made Morgan to withdraw. At a time Grace his wife, became the vice president when he sacked the incumbent. And if it weren’t for the military that ousted him, he probably would have remained on the seat till his eventual demise.

·        LIBYA; No African will forget in a hurry Ghadafi of Libya before being overthrown. A man who ruled with so much audacity between 1969 to 2011 (42years). Woe betides whoever questioned his authority and before being overthrown and his subsequent death, he ruled plainly as a dictator who did not really put the feelings of the masses first. His many atrocities alone would make up a full book.

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In the middle of all these not too interesting style of leadership in Africa, two Countries clearly stood out as great models and worthy of emulation. Despite the fact that one of the president is also a dictator; his reign is fruitful.

Ø  Rwanda

Profiling that Central African country; Rwanda is very peaceful. Though predominantly into Agriculture, she has enjoyed a rapid advancement in Economic Growth over the years owing to successful Government Policies. Tech investments too have opened this country up to global information, for instance, it is set to open its first Smartphone factory, making it the first in Africa to locally manufacture phones that will meet the demand of the African market.

Another great move is the introduction of the smart-card ticketing system of paying for public buses which has been launched in Kigali, a modern technology accustomed with developed countries. Obviously, tiny locked Rwanda is about to experience a boom with the eye of international investors looking their way.

Recently adjudged one of the easiest, fastest and less expensive places to operate business in areas such as accessing credit, registering property transfers, paying taxes and enforcing contracts, Rwanda might just be on her way to being the giant of Africa, population asides.

Worthy of note however; gender inequality is actually a thing of the past in Rwanda. In the parliamentary, women occupy 54 seats out of the total of 80, a whopping 67.5 %, the highest that can be found worldwide. Another reason that  could be attributed to the working system there-in is because the presidency is surrounded by ‘modern’ young minds to effect equally ‘modern’ changes. The average age of the Ministers in Rwanda is 47.5 years. The age of the youngest cabinet member being 31 years, that is Jean de dieu Uwihanganye who is the Minister of State for Infrastructure. He takes charge of transportation too.

              

 Others are 46 year old Edouard Ngirente, the Prime Minister of Rwanda, 48 year old Gerardine Mukeshim, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Judith Uwizeye is the Minister in charge of the Office of the President and she is 39. Paula Ingabire-the Rwandan Information and Communication Technology Minister is female and 36 just to mention a few)

                  All of these are made manifest under the leadership of 62 year old Leader Paul Kagame, president since 2000. Described as the ‘most impressive’ among the repressive African leaders, he is the present chairman of the African Union and recognized not just for his impressive personality alone, but for being a serious minded fellow and a highly intelligent man too. He presently holds the plague for 2018  African of the year at the 8^th all  Africa Business Leaders Award.

                Kagame also exhibits the traits of some other dictators by exerting control over the politics of the Country, having clearly silenced the opposition via arrest, intimidation, even forced some into exile. He also changed the constitution that allows him to run for additional terms, and since he has suspended BBC Kinyarwanda in 2014, the media is beginning to take caution too with discussing sensitive political issues for fear of criticizing him hence intimidated. Despite these, he receives genuine support from the populace just because he prioritizes National development over any selfish interest. He has also launched programs to develop Rwanda as a middle income country by 2020. And in as much as power might not change hands anytime soon, Rwandans may not really be complaining, who makes a move to change a winning team?

Ø  Botswana;

Botswana is Africa’s longest continuous democracy which has never experienced a coup or political violence. They enjoy free healthcare, has Africa’s best Police, third freest Economy and forth strongest Passport. Google information has it that Botswana is one of Africa’s most stable country, the continent’s longest continuous multi party democracy, relatively free of corruption, and has a good human rights records, sparsely populated and a lot of good things going on for them.

Impressively, student in Botswana gets loan to study and a monthly allowance which they pay back once employed.

Presiding over this Nation is 57 year old Mokgweetsi Masisi, who assumed office on the 1^st of April 2018.  He is the fifth president since independence, not just educated but an elitist too. Besides, the system in Botswana has always been working from reign to reign.

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Having critically examined the style of leadership in Africa, most dictators are older people. But in the case where dictatorship comes in the skin of a younger person, then he is more than likely a product of an erstwhile dictator. Meanwhile, posterity says that a leader should put the interest of the followers before his. Having a sit-tight syndrome to power despite grumbles from the citizens is utterly selfish. It is also not a great idea, when the populace languishes in abject poverty yet the leaders unapologetically swim in unending wealth, even rubbing it in their faces.

My point however;

Most African countries clearly need a change of hand, away from the old dictators to much younger, exposed, smart and technologically inclined leaders. To be ably surrounded by equally young minds too.  I wonder why this seems difficult when the present crop of leaders has been governing since the start of their lives. And has it ever occurred to anyone that Africa is remarkably the youngest continent in the World? In that it has more number of young people. For instance, while the United States has a median age of 38.1, the United Kingdom-40.5 years, and Germany -47, African Countries like Niger Republic and Uganda’s average age is 15. Generally, 60% of Africans are actually under the age of 25, need more reasons to reiterate the call for young leadership?

Young Africans should make conscious effort to take over leadership; the older ones too should not only tutor, but make way by ensuring that the path to leadership for the youths becomes enabling.

 In all, how prepared are the youths even?  

If the ways by which African youths go about their lives at the moment is anything to go by, then they seem not ready to be leaders.

 Taking Nigerian youths as a case study, it all started when President Muhammadu Buhari called out Nigerian youths and labeled them lazy. The uproar that ensued subsequently went viral such that, many hardworking youths, I inclusive was forced to showcase their hustle. Of course it is very hard to make ends meet in a non enabling environment like Nigeria, but he may not be out rightly incorrect going by the recent upsurge in internet fraud by Youths, they clearly want a shortcut to success. And then if the reports from a Conference organized by Google last year in Nigeria is anything to go by, where Google’s vice president (Global Marketing) Marvin Chow revealed to a startled audience, that the most searched subjects in Nigeria for 2018 was nothing innovative or mind stimulating.

 They were;

•         World cup fixtures for baba ijebu (A local lotto platform)
•         Wizkid’s Soco  (Songs from the album of a Nigerian Musician)
•         How to prepare Banga Soup (I’m just amazed at how we managed to google this in droves when I have never even tasted Banga)
•         Npower   (A Federal Government scheme to combat unemployment among the youths. This still makes a lot of sense)
•         Who is the richest musician in Nigeria?  (For crying out loud, how is that supposed to be a thing?)
•         How to dance shaku shaku (Many Nigerian youths be dancing their senses away via this energy draining dance style?)
•         BB Naija  (A Nigerian reality show that many youth spends most of their productive time watching, leaving behind important life decisions)
•         Black panther (The director of that film- Ryan Coogler must be smiling by now. Thanks to this, now I know Michael Jordan and Chadwick Bossman)
•         How to tie gele (I honestly consider this very absurd)

And with the report that says 99% of internet users are aged between 16-34 years, evidently Nigerian youths have been feeding their minds with very unproductive contents from the internet.

I believe the crops of world leaders like 39 year old Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, 44 year old Jean Claude Juncker, President of Luxembourg, 43 year old Charles Michel, the Prime Minister of Belgium, 47 year old Justin Trudeau, President of Canada, should challenge us African youths to take the bull by the horn to embrace Leadership, not venturing into politics because it is money spinning, but because we have to make this Continent better for ourselves and the oncoming generation.

With such problems still facing Africa like extreme poverty, people still living below one dollar per day, hunger, education isn’t as fast rising as it should be, Housing remains one of our greatest problems. People abode in very unimaginable places, trust me Westerners wouldn’t even subject their livestock to such pitiable conditions, unemployed youths are either embracing crimes and terrorism, or even migrating out of Africa in droves and never looks back, poor access to financing, corruption, drought and famine, war, broken infrastructure, and then poor access to information is a thing with Africa experiencing the most expensive internet access, despite being poor countries etc. A lot of repair needs to be done and we need to start as early as possible.

            But if the non-challance to being vast and upright politically persists among the younger Africans, the incoming generation is in deep trouble. What leadership lessons is this generation going to pass unto the next one when we do not even know jack? There is fire on the mountain else we risk being re-colonized near future, by the time leadership knowledge goes into extinction and the present crop of leaders is no more.

Ref……Wikipedia

Note;   I am not able to reference more sites because I have had most figures and facts jotted down from conferences, notes from speakers, journals in the past.