Protocol

Thank you for the warm welcome to the beautiful city of Houston and  to Texas   Southern University (TSU). In the last couple   of days, I have had engagements in a number of cities  in Africa and in the US but Houston presents   a special   ambience   for me.   I   offer special   thanks   to the leadership   of this  University as well as to staff, faculty and   students   and   in particular   to the   Provost and   Vice President   for Academic Affairs & Research,   James   W. Ward and  all others who facilitated my coming   to TSU today.

As one of the leading  historically-black universities in the US, we applaud   the   success   stories   recorded since   this university   was   founded   in   1927.   Your national   and global   ranking in several   disciplines commendably stand you   out.   For   us   in   Africa, TSU is   our   pride.    The university has   produced a large number of graduates of African origin   who are now in top leadership roles in the continent, with Nigeria appropriating a large share.   Since I came,   everywhere I turned,   I can see what   I can call a “Nigerian   face”   among   faculty   and   students.   Recall that by sheer   numbers,   Nigerians make  up one out  of every four on the African continent. Perhaps the faces I see as Nigerians​ could  very   well   be   those   of   Ghanaians, Kenyans,   South   Africans and others with African roots.

The level of diversity exhibited by your  institution does not only reflect   in the composition of your   students   but also in your  faculty   capacity.   It is a delight to observe Dr. Sunny E. Ohia and the Interim Associate Provost, Associate Vice President for Research, Adebayo Oyekan, have Nigerian roots. It is on account of this rich African ancestry of staff, faculty and students of TSU that I have steered this lecture to address the issue of political and economic growth in Africa, so that we can keep ourselves up-to-date on issues relating to development in the continent from which most of you derive your roots.

Distinguished ladies and  gentlemen, I have decided to share my thoughts with you on, Current Dynamics and Future   of Political   and   Economic Growth & Development In Africa.

We are at a point  in   history where  Africa,   in   spite   of its   challenges,    has   emerged   a critical   player   in   the     global   development   agenda,   As a continent,     we   have,   learned   a   lot   of lessons    from   our colonial   past.       When   the wave   of independence blew across  Africa   in the late  1950s and   1960s, history was made.  I do not wish to bemoan the past predicaments of our   continent.    We are   all familiar with   how the   contact between Africa   and   the   outside   world precipitated   death and   destruction, untold   misery,  dislocations,   distortions, contradictions   and   conflicts   all   culminating   in   the underdevelopment  of Africa   and   its   marginalization  in the global divisions   of labor, decision-making  and power.

*Obasanjo in Texas

Today, my aim is to celebrate Africa; to show  that  Africa is   moving away   from   being a region   of hunger,   pain, misery, ​ backwardness    and   perpetual bad   news,   to   a continent​ of opportunity,   possibilities; and progress.   I will show  that   Africa has a lot to be proud  of by way of achievements and   more   importantly   that   we have a sense ​of  direction,     a   sense     of   mission     and   a determination​ to   engage   our   problems   directly.   Of course, as always, and as it is with other continents, we will continue to need the understanding  and support   of our ​friends  in  our   quest  to effectively reposition the region ​ for   peace,     harmony, Self-sustained growth, development, democracy and good governance.

It is true that Africa still has problems that constrain and indeed  distort   development and   precipitate   instability and   crises.   These   include   corruption,   bad   governance and    bad    leadership,  poor   resource   management, technological     backwardness,    structural    deficiencies, among   several   others.   These   are   not   new   problems. However,  two issues  can be regarded as new. First,   even in   the   most   depressed   African economy, people   and leaders     are   increasingly   aware     of   the    depth   and implications of the problems and current  commitment to change. Second, the majority of the 54 countries in Africa are  not  in   the   group   of distressed,  failed, exhausted, regressing, and unstable economies. This is something to be celebrated.

About  five decades ago, the wave of military coups  and totalitarianism   was   common place.   Democracies   that were wrestled from the colonial masters were truncated at their  prime.   Youthful and  ambitious young  military officers were too impatient to see the democratic process bloom. For a continent that   had experienced colonialism for far too long, coups   and counter   coups   soon   replaced the   short-lived   freedom   that   followed. In   the   face   of taking   power   using   the barrel   of the gun, lives were lost, the will of the people were subverted, life was snuffed   out of democracy.   This   deviation from the   sanity   of a new world   order   where   leaders   were chosen  by the   citizenry was cut short.

Before these  lapses   set in, desire  for progress was what motivated the leaders   of independent African countries in 1963 when   they   came   together to form the Organization of African Unity.   Top on their   agenda   was “to accelerate the   political    and     socio-economic   integration   of   the continent.” This   aspiration remains as relevant today   as it was   52 years   ago. From my experience in and   out   of government,· the success   of this ambition and many more like it depends largely on the commitment, and  in some cases   involvement, of African leaders   in the   public   and…important   as   its   economy.  Although   some   school   of thought   may     oppose     this     view,   my   experience     in government has clearly  validated it. When you attempt to separate   political   development   from   economic   growth, you are inviting chaos.

Talking about   the dynamics of democracy   in present day Africa let me be quick   to remind   you   about   the   historic Presidential   elections   that   took   place   in   Nigeria   a   few weeks   ago.   It was the first time in our young   democracy that   an incumbent   president lost an election. Contrary   to the wave of violence that   followed the   declaration   of the 2011     elections,   a   sense     of   peace,     tranquility     and patriotism   prevailed. The incumbent   President   Goodluck Jonathan   was   quick   to concede defeat.   His   statesman-like decision partly   contributed   to the post-election   calm but   more   importantly   is   the   level   of   patriotism  and citizenship   exercised by the   people. Many people  defied scorching   sun   and   downpour   of rain   to   collect  their permanent   voters cards   (PVC), to get accredited   on the   day of election   and   to   subsequently   vote   and   protect     their votes. This   is a clear   indicator   of the   level of growth   and development   that   our democracy is experiencing,   which   I believe other   African countries are poised   to emulate.

Nexus   between Political and   Economic   Growth and Development in Africa

Distinguished   ladies   and   gentlemen,   if we were  to plug   in variables  of politics   and   economy into   the   development equation,  we will find the   links   to be positive,   large   and significant,   The color   and   nature   of politics   practiced   in the land have direct  impact  on growth  and  development. So also   is   economy   which   intertwines   with   politics   to affect development.   How do these  play out on the   ground in Africa?

The wave of protests across  the Arab world  which   started in 2011  had  its   roots   in Africa. The   living conditions…Africans     is   gradually     being     turned     into a   tool of empowerment for the   citizens. That  singular action   in Tunisia   set the Arab world on its guard  and threatened the remaining dictators on the continent and around  the world.   Some   forty,  or fifty decades ago, opposing voices are only heard  as whispers in the face of fierce dictators and   power-drunk   civilians.   In Africa of today,   Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South   Africa and   many   other   countries have   shown   us that   credible elections can be conducted with bold and  organized opposition. Young people   on the streets ​are   now proud   and   certain   that   any government that ​under-performs   will be ushered   out   at   the   ballot.

Regional bodies   like   the   African Union   have   intervened timely   in   situations   that   can   or have   degenerated   into violence and   have   ensured   credible political systems   on the    continent.   I have   led   a number   of African Union election    monitoring/ observer   teams,     the   latest     being Sudan,     and   I attest     to   the   reasonable   efficacy of the intervention.  Although not perfect, these   are indications of   a   growing   and     promising     political   growth     and development,   and   it gives   a lot of hope   for the   present and the future.

Of course,   all countries on the continent are not blight free with   regard   to practicing true   democracy. Although some   leaders   have   been   in power for upwards   of one decade,   such   acts   can   be recorded in only a handful of states.     I   believe that   the   successes   recorded in other countries   on   the   continent where democracy is   being continuously    nurtured    will   propel the   few   hesitant countries  to improve on their practice of democracy.

Ladies   and   gentlemen, let me now take  on the economic aspect ​of   Africa’s growth and   development. Political instability,​violent  conflicts and war are bane   of economic development.  The   loss   of human   resources,   destruction of existing inadequate infrastructure, disinterest of local and ​foreign  investors,   are   immiscible with   economic growth.​  African   leaders     are   aware   of these  are
enhancement of economic development and   prosperity.

For a more   prosperous   continent,   internal   linkages   and the integration   of African economic sectors   is important. The continued   expansion   of African multinationals   is a very commendable effort. In many   more   ways,   Africa’s private     sector   has   proven   effective in   blurring   state-border   lines   and   promoting the   free-flow of goods   and services, capital,   labor   and   markets.

Some   twenty   years ago, it   was   almost     impossible   to   find   Africa-owned multinational     companies   that     are     based     in   Africa expanding   across   the   continent. Today, many   of such multinationals   are   increasing in number.   Brand   names like   Ethiopian Airlines; Kenya Airways, South  Africa’s MTN, Nigeria’s Globacom, United     Bank     for   Africa, Guaranty   Trust   Bank,   Dangote, are   some   of Africa’s multinational    corporations   with    business    landscape spanning   the   continent   and   even further   afield   to other regions   of the world.

This   success   story   of the   emergence   of multinational corporations   owned   by Africans does   not   in   any   way underplay   the   importance   of   foreign   investment     and partners.   The flow of Foreign Direct   Investments   (FDIs) is a   necessary     component     of   economic     growth       and increased   output.   FDls are so critical   that   they   drive   the growth   of local   businesses   and   enhance   job   creation. They   blur   the   border   between Africa and   the   rest   of the world   by    enhancing   transfer   of   technology   into     the continent   from   developed countries.   They   create   wealth, reduce   poverty and   improve the standard   of living   of the citizens.

Challenges to   Political and   Economic   Growth and Development in Africa

As an incurable   optimist when   it comes   to Africa, I will not pretend   that   all is well with Africa as we still have  a long  way  to go. A number   of challenges   still   clog the wheel  of progress. Some of these  challenges form part  of…

Let us take the issue  of terrorism which is fast rising  on a global scale. Terrorism is a global cancer  that  requires collective global effort to be surgically and   strategically removed. Poverty, unemployment and warped  social  and religious values   are among the many contributory factors leading  African youth  to enlist   in the   ignoble   ranks   of terrorists.   Recruitment   on   social   media   channels targeting young  people in Europe  and America calls   for global concern   and   action. This   outlook   provides   a daunting challenge for Africa. Exactly three   weeks   ago today, gunmen suspected to be Al Shabaab   devotees attacked   Garissa   University College in   Kenya killing about   147 innocent students. This happened even before the   pains   and   hurtful   memories of the   Westgate Mall attack of 2013 in Nairobi can begin to fade. For six years, Boko Haram   killed and slaughtered people in Northern Nigeria with the kidnap  of 276 Chibok school girls being one of the outstanding entries   in their black book. Their activities   were   even   extended   into   neighboring Cameroun, Chad and Niger. March 2015 also witnessed attacks   on the   Bardo   Museum in Tunis,   Tunisia, with foreign and   local causalities.   In   France,   Denmark, Australia, Turkey, Mali, Egypt, horrendous   attacks   on innocent lives have   been   perpetrated   by terrorists   and their sympathizers.

Terrorism threatens  to reverse the progress in political and  economic stability that   has   so far being   made   in Africa. It  discourages economic growth by   creating insecurity which drives investors away and   discourage more FDls. As the global community press   on in this fight, Africa should be seen as a partner   in progress to combat this global threat   to human   security.   Individual nations   should   embark   on socio-economic programmes to lift up marginalized and disadvantaged areas   of their countries .​Intelligence sharing     and   joint  military operation at bilateral and multi-lateral levels must  be…

Another     challenge     facing     the   continent     is the   high     level    of unemployment.   The   global     unemployment   outlook     is   not very   positive     but     Africa’s     unemployment    rate     remains alarming.   The   youth    who   constitute   about   60°/o   of the population     are     more     affected   by     this     challenge.

Employment is a right of all those who want   to’ work and that   right   must   not be denied   them.   Growth without job creation   can   only   lead   to   frustration,   bitterness   and anger ​particularly   among   the youth   who,   in restiveness and   restlessness,   can   trigger   a tsunami   of social   unrest that   would make   nonsense of the highest   of growths.

Although   the   era   of military incursion   into   democratic systems   in   Africa   is becoming rare,   pockets   of violent conflicts and   ethnic   tensions   are   still being   experienced in   some     areas.     In   2013,     the   number   of   Internally Displaced   Persons   (IDPs)in   Africa   grew   by about   eight percent.   The   conflict   in   Democratic   Republic   of Congo shattered   the   political   system   and   ruined     any   record   of growth   recorded   before   the   conflict began.   The   civil war in South   Sudan   has   seen   the humanitarian  crisis   in that country   degenerate   beyond acceptable levels. I was approved Chairman of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South  Sudan   as   a   result   of   violent conflict after independence.

Uninterrupted democratic systems signal the only way to a prosperous Africa. Economies collapse when  ethnic and internal violence becomes the order of the day.

Last   year,   the   outbreak   of the   Ebola Virus   Disease ravaged   some   West African countries.   Sierra   Leone, Liberia and Guinea were badly affected. Mali, Nigeria and Senegal recorded a few cases and were later declared free of the   disease. The burden   of this   epidemic within   the context   of a dysfunctional health   system   and   poverty contributed to the spread   of the disease.   This challenge came   while   Africa and   the   rest   of the   world were still battling  with HIV I AIDS,     tuberculosis   and   malaria   on the continent further   burdening   and   over-stretching   the   resources of the   fragile health   systems. The   substandard   state   of healthcare   system   in Africa complicates the challenge of providing adequate services for its people. Capital   flight in   the     healthcare   sector     continues   to   plaque     the continent   as the   relatively affluent people seek   medical attention   and   treatment   abroad.   Africa needs   a healthy population to be able to rise to its potential. The lesson from Ebola is that   adequate provision must   be made   for healthcare​ services   in   all   African countries.   Ebola exposed the inadequacy and the unpreparedness  in this regard.

Another issue  I will like to talk about   is the worrisome trend   of drug   trafficking. This further   complicates the progress   that   Africa has   made   and   is   making.   The growing impact   of drug   trade   is an enormous   issue   in Africa, particularly in West Africa which is vulnerable to transnational     criminal   activity.   Borders   are   porous, coastlines     are   under-patrolled,     and   institutions     are vulnerable   to corruption.   International   drug   cartels   are using   countries   as   transhipment    points   between   the production     centres     in   Latin   America   and   Asia   and consumer   markets   in   Europe   and   the   United   States. Illegal   drugs   and   the   money   that   they   generate   invade and   destabilise   societies.

Regent Adetutu Adesida Ojei, The Deji of Akure, a TSU alumi, at the event.

These   developments threaten   to reverse   recent   economic and   social   gains   in Africa. So far,   West   Africa   has   escaped the   bloody carnage which  scars   Central     America on   a daily   basis.   But   with   the stakes   so high,   there   is no room   for complacency.   Just one tonne   of cocaine that   reaches   Europe   via West Africa is worth   more   than   the   security budget   of many   of our countries.   In my work as the Chairman of the West Africa Commission   on Drugs,   we have   found   that   interdiction, though     improving,   is   still   hampered   by   capacity   and resource   constraints   and   sometimes interference   by the very influential   people.   In some   countries   in the   region, people   in positions   of power,   the   security   services and…

This   has   led,   in   some cases,   to political instability and corruption. However, we find  that links between traffickers and terrorist networks are more often   opportunistic   than     ideological.   Militarising   the response   to drug   trafficking would therefore only make matters     worse.   We believe that   West Africa’s electoral processes   are   worryingly vulnerable   to   corruption   by drug   money.   To deal   effectively with the   issue   ‘of drug, the   producing   countries,   the   transit   countries,    and   the consuming     countries     must     work   hand-in-hand     and together. There   is also need   for review of drug   laws   and policy in most   countries   so that   adequate   attention   is paid   to the   health   aspect   and   not only criminal justice aspect   alone.
Charting     the  Course  for  a  Politically and Economically Prosperous  Future  for Africa
For   Africa to   establish     itself     as   a   politically   and economically viable   continent,   it must   continue   to press further   in its integration   and   collaborative engagements. Lessons     should     be   learnt     from     the     success       and challenges   of   NEPAD to   further     ensure      ‘home-grown’ solutions   to   Africa’s   challenges.   More specifically,   its leaders,   in the   public   and   private   sectors,   must   ensure that     they   consolidate   on   the   gains     made     since     the millennium.     Reforms   that     have     promoted     economic stability   should     be   sustained.     Political   leaders     must ensure     that   greed   and   self-interest   do   not   cloud   their sense     of judgement.     Ideals   of   democracy   should     be promoted   and   preserved,   not only for the leaders,   but   the citizens should   be carried   along to understand   their   civic responsibility     and     their     power   to   choose     their     own leaders.   African leaders     should   be   uncompromising     in building viable   institutions   in the   area   of politics,   trade and   investment,     education,   health,   judiciary,   and   all areas   of governance.   It is such   institutions   that   will help checkmate   shortcomings   and   help   preserve the   ideals   of a prosperous   and   a peaceful Africa. For   a   wholesome…contentment will reign, social justice and human rights and human dignity must firm the bedrock of such a society. The cankerworm of corruption in all its manifestations must be removed.

Let me now deal with the issue   of education. It   is said that   the   only alternative to education is education. We have   to continue to invest massively in education at all levels to produce   men   and   women who will lead   and direct   our   development programs and   progress. They must   form the   think-tank   and   the   do-tank   for   our development. Our hope and aspiration as a continent for our   development must   be in tandem   with the   content, quality, value and adequacy of our education particularly science, mathematics and engineering. In the same vein, our education     must     also     be   designed   to     drive entrepreneurial   development  especially among our young people. Our   educational   system   should   be upgraded to focus on, not just   acquiring the ability to read, write and communicate,     it   must     be   propelled to   produce   job creators and inventors.

The  present generation     is     exposed   to     so     much advancement     in   science   and   technology   than     all   the generations       before them.     Therefore,   Africa   must encourage   its   young     people   to   embrace   science     and technology   development.   Holistic approaches   should   be taken   to   harness     the   power   of science   and   technology across     Africa   in   ways   that   will   boost   development of various   sectors   of the   economy. Policies that   encourage local business   should   be promoted to encourage   budding entrepreneurs.

As a farmer,   I have   seen and experienced the potential of agriculture.   Besides combating food security,   it helps   to generate   a lot of jobs.   But it must   be made   attractive to young   people.     Many   of them   still   think     of hoes   and cutlasses     when   they   hear   about agriculture. Such   a stereotype   should     be   discouraged.   We must   encourage  and increase     the   export     potentials     of Africa   to   other     parts     of the   world.   The   threat     of global     food   security     makes     the large   uncultivated       land   in Africa   a most     desirable     area   of focus     for   African   governments       and   the   private     sector     to turn   for viable agriculture. Agribusiness must   be rapidly promoted   and   taught   practically to   young   people to stimulate   their   interest   in taking   to agribusiness   as a vocation.

The problems faced by Africans today must be confronted with a renewed vigour. The problems facing the continent are more   internal than   external. This means   that   more work would have to be done within the continent. But by who? As   a   prelude     to   answering   this   question   and connecting   with    the   other   strategic   questions   to   be answered, I like   to recall some discussions at the 2015 Annual   Summit of the Centre for Human   Security (CHS) of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL)in Abeokuta,   Ogun   State,   Nigeria on March 5 2015.   Two interesting   lectures were delivered on the occasion. The first   was   by   General   Martin Luther   Agwai   (rtd), the former   Force   Commander of the ·UN Peace Operations in Darfur,   Sudan   and   the   second   was by Dr. Umar   Bindir, the     Director     General     of   the     National   Office   for Technological Acquisition and Promotion in  Nigeria.

The ​​two   lectures   focused   on   how   Africa, and   most particularly​ Nigeria, could become a true   “giant   of Africa” through​​ innovations   in   security   management,   science and ​technology.   While the   lecture   delivered by General Agwai focused on security sector   reforms in Africa, that of Bindir   harped   on the   fact that   what   Nigeria needs   in order ​​  to   become   an   industrial   giant   in   the   world   are already ​in   existence   in the   country.  These   are   human resources,​​ natural     resources,     and     some     existing innovations ​resulting   from research findings of academic institutions​ and policy think   tanks   around   the   country.

Bindir   bemoaned   a situation   where   financial   resources are   pumped   into   the   conduct   of new   research   projects…Nigeria,   and Africa, provide the opportunity to acquire new   lessons   on   how   to   become self-reliant.   What   this translates   into   is that   the present   positive development indexes in Africa are probably not sustainable.

There were   three   discussants   of the papers   presented   by Agwai   and     Bindir.   One   of   them     was   a   12-year-old secondary   student.   When   he   mounted   the   rostrum,   I could   clearly see anxiety   on   the   faces   of the   audience. Why     would   a     12-year     old     be   asked  to     discuss presentations   made   by the likes of his grandfathers?   But by the time   the boy started   to discuss the two papers, the wisdom    of   bringing   him     to   the    Summit     became appreciated.

The   young   boy   thanked   the   two   paper presenters for their erudition  and  called attention to the salient   issues   raised   in their presentations. However, he said the future that both papers   were talking about  has more to do with him and his generation.   He could not see….
given the slow pace of development in Africa. He was civil enough  not   to clearly   accuse   his older   generation   of not giving African children   and   youth     any   hope   for   the future.   But the   audience clearly   got the message   he was trying   to make   by circumlocution   that   the present   level of development   in Africa is not sustainable   if the   quality   of economic and   political leadership   in the   continent   is not improved.   He raised   questions about   the widespread   fear that   the 2015   elections would lead to violence. On behalf of his peers,   he begged the audience to do all within   their powers   towards ensuring   that   no lives were   lost   during the elections. To him, Nigerian children are tired   of living in orphanages.   The   elections   turned     out   reasonably peacefully the way he urged.

Concluding Remarks

Distinguished   ladies   and   gentlemen,   as    I bring   this lecture   to a close, I should   stress   that   it is a greasy   pole to climb to attempt   to say all that   are needed   to be said on current   developments and future   directions of politics and economy  of Africa. What I have been   able to do is to present   key highlights of the issues   but   laying   stress   on those   contemporary   issues   with high predictive power   of the   future   of political and   economic development in the continent.

The   economy   of   Sub-Saharan   Africa is   today   widely considered to be the second   fastest   growing in the world, trailing     only     developing Asia.   This     is   remarkable compared to the   current   complicated state   of the   global economy, with   Europe   still   struggling and   the   United States   slowly on the mend. It is interesting   to note   that foreign investors   that   hitherto   ignored Africa as   a marginal backwater are now competing for opportunities and   influence. The competition is increasingly   between the ​western   world and   China.   In   short,   Africa is undergoing a moment of transformation and the current dynamics appear   to be salutary. But how enduring  are the capacity to sustain   its present  of  development?

For now, the growth experienced by  the continent does not necessarily trickle down to the· grassroots. Until this problem is actionably dealt   with, the   future   of Africa cannot   be said   to be rosy because development is not about   mounting statistics but   about   noticeable positive changes in   the   life of the   people, about   freedom and choice.

Still talking   about   the future,   Africans would   like to see free,  fair   and   credible elections in   which   their   votes would count.   They want   a political leadership   that   is committed   to   transparency   and   accountability.   They want   to have   enough   food to eat,   good healthcare,   and effective educational   system.   They   want     to   see     a narrowing of the gap in the living standards   of Africans and the rest of the world. They want a peaceful continent in which individuals would have no fear to pursue   their legitimate social, economic and   political   goals.     They want   a drastic   reduction in the   number   of unemployed youths. ​All of these   are modest   demands;   the   people   are not   asking   for too much.   Until   the   expectations   of the people   are   met   it   is   difficult for   us   to   celebrate   the current   development trends   in the continent.

African governments are doing their   best   to contend   with each     of   these     problems   unilaterally,     bilaterally     and multilaterally.   At the multilateral level, the African Union (AU) has   established   several   structures     for   promoting collaborative   social,   economic and   political   development of the continent.   One of them   is the   New Partnership   for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) of which   I am happy   to be a founding   initiator.   This   is   an   economic   development program   seeking   to promote   an   overarching   vision   and policy framework for accelerating   economic   co-operation and   integration   among   African countries.     The   AU has   a Panel   of the   Wise which   moves   round     the   continent preventing   and     managing   such     conflicts   that   could negatively impact   on development   process   in Africa.   The…political conflicts   but    also   include    management of         problems     associated     with   the   conduct   of elections. It is hoped     that     this   kind     of collaborative efforts   to   deal with African   problems     would     continue     so   that     the     continent can as   well   continue   to be a society   with a sane future.

In   concluding my address, I wish to observe  that   the challenges before Africa are obviously daunting but they are not insurmountable. Though not fast enough, I like to conclude that the African continent is making   gradual progress. It is no longer the Dark Continent that   some pundits   considered it to be though   we need more   power to produce light   in   Africa.   Neither is it any   longer   a liability to the rest of the human   race as we were once told. There are some obvious issues   that we cannot   gloss over. I have called cursory attention to a few of them   and critically underscored how different stakeholders   across the   continent and   beyond contend with   them.   Indeed, these   African problems require   both   local and   global solutions. A lot is being done; more can still be done   in the direction of giving the continent a laudable future.

If you ask me to reduce all I have said in this   lecture   to one sentence,   I will say “The quality   of leadership   is the strongest predictor of the political and economic future   of Africa”. The issue   of good leadership is the   crux   of the whole   matter.   Now is the time   to improve leadership   in Africa generally, particularly political leadership.   It is the game-changer   in the   whole development agenda   for the continent.   Let me   assure   you   that   with   the   leadership question   attended   to,   Africa will   continue   to   make progress,   particularly   in   economy   and     politics.   Our commitment   is strong,   our focus is clear,   our   dedication is undiluted,   and   our hopes   are robust,   fresh   and   warm.

For us in Africa, we are ready to march   on to a better   and brighter future.   With the   support   of our   friends   all over the   world and   with   our   own   resolve, our   political   and economic present   and future   is assured to be bright

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo delivered this speech at the Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, recently.