It goes without saying that an average man is seldom eager to leave home for a greener pasture. The truth in it oftentimes varies with individual perception and understanding of the underlying facts that support the saying. There remains a continuous exodus of bright minds as their home societies allegedly limit their interactions and growth for the development of their respective home environments. Although it has a wide range of natural resources, Africa is not the most prosperous continent per capita, despite its size and populace.
Because of geographical impediments, colonial legacies in Africa, Cold War divisions, predatory/neocolonialist activities by western nations, undemocratic rule and undemocratic policies, Africa has suffered from these disadvantages especially. Based on glaring facts and results, this, noting a few highlights from Mallence Bart-Williams, is an opinionated view to the role of Africa as a resource that keeps the world alive.
Start with these few questions for thought: If Africa has these resources that are endlessly mined by the western world, why does even the currency of some African countries value so little in western currencies? Is Africa not the real gold and mineral reserve? Isn’t it evident that many African currencies are worthless in western currencies than they are in their own currencies?
Due to the scarcity of alternative resources in Africa, the west is dependent on Africa in every way possible. But how does the west ensure that the free aid continues to flow? In order to accomplish this, African nations and their systems are destabilized, leaving the majority of the world with the impression that Africa is poor and dying and surviving on the mercy of the west.
In the broader global context, Africa remains an important market because of its large and growing population, recent economic expansion, and low wealth concentration. A great rise in foreign investment into many African nations has been driven by improved economic stability and reforms, which is spurring rapid economic growth in many countries, seemingly ending decades of stagnation and decline.
The influx of enlightened minds into the developed world can also be partially attributed to the diffusion of information technology and digitization. Migration from African nations has substantially increased in the last decade, spurred by well-executed plans aimed at this young populace, like drawing bees away from the hives by any means necessary to get to the honey within. The prospect of better lives in the developed world has attracted a growing number of enlightened people.
Ultimately, this has resulted in a lasting impression among the entire world that Africa is poor and dying, and just managing to survive on the mercy of non-African forces. It would be logical that a robust, well-functioning Africa would not distribute its resources as freely and cheaply, and instead sell them at world market prices, which in turn would weaken western economies.
Six of the ten fastest-growing economies in the world according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are located in Africa; some foreign nations have acknowledged that they make the majority of their money by exploiting Africa. A number of foreign nations would fall into the category of third-world countries without Africa. There is no doubt therefore that the aid is coming from Africa to the west rather than the other way around as generally perceived. In reality, one does not require cognitive understanding but intuitive intelligence to see this.
Africa’s expanding youth population and educated, tech-savvy population makes it a great location for advancing development through innovation. At a heightened level of transformation and at a macro level, Africa can be made an important economic player globally, allowing its products and resources to be exported off the continent. Cluster-specific initiatives normally focus on increasing product availability and production competence. The African continent, characterized by a dense diversity of ethnicities, cultures, and languages, has a long and intricate history of civilizations, migrations, and trade that makes it uniquely suited to be more than just a crude, exploitable resource for humanity.
Chizaram D. Ezugwu
Arise Africa!
God help Africa