A New Africa: Leadership and Transformational Change for a New Africa

Change is a word used so often that it has lost its meaning.

Life is change, and stagnation is the enemy of growth.

In a recent article on "50 Things You must stop saying at Work", #15 states, “Transformational Change - What other kind of change is there?.”

Africa in the past has resisted opportunities to invest in youths to amend its destiny, and the costs have been catastrophic. The African Youth has been affected by the lost decades of growth and investment in the capacity-building of critically needed infrastructure, improved access to health, political stability, and employment opportunities. Today’s Africa has youths rising to meet the challenges of taking ownership in creating the Africa of tomorrow by investing in the education of young people through multiple entrepreneurship initiatives. If Africa is to reach the current economic forecast, the youth must lead and be the leaders today and tomorrow. However, more help is needed. Daily I am reminded that I can do more as a member of the diaspora by volunteering, collaborating, and sharing knowledge.

Multiple areas of opportunity are clustering to channel the enthusiasm of the diaspora community. A few came to mind:

• Partnerships- Strategic growth for the Africa region will rely on improved Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to ensure that critically needed private investment is effective in multiple ongoing infrastructure projects across the region.
  

• Entrepreneurship – Over 70.0% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa was aged below 30 at the beginning of 2012. Entrepreneurship skills coupled with soft skills training is a vital requirement in capacity-building to aid Africa’s youth in creating self-employment opportunities and revitalizing legacy and new industries through information and Communication Technology (ICT) to reach the 2030 MDG’s of ending poverty, and improving shared prosperity.
  

• Empowerment – The recent abduction of the Chibk schoolgirls and the continued roadblock of educating and empowering Africa’s girls to mirror gains made in Europe and America will improve overall economic growth opportunities to help Africa grow.