In this article, Bola Atta ponders on the uniting factors that could transform Africa from rising
to the risen continent.
to the risen continent.
It is often
that my job responsibilities take me across the African continent for various
reasons. I consider this as one of the benefits of working in a successful
pan-African organisation, with footprints in 20 African countries and in the
UK, the USA and presence in France. I often get to see Africa in all its beauty
and splendour, and to view the problems as mere challenges that have the
potential to be perfectly turned around in just a few decades.
that my job responsibilities take me across the African continent for various
reasons. I consider this as one of the benefits of working in a successful
pan-African organisation, with footprints in 20 African countries and in the
UK, the USA and presence in France. I often get to see Africa in all its beauty
and splendour, and to view the problems as mere challenges that have the
potential to be perfectly turned around in just a few decades.
Last week, I
had the opportunity to represent UBA Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, at the
Sultani Makutano conference in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).
The Makutano was a meeting of great minds, leaders and youths from across Africa
in one space, to discuss the issues that impede development on the continent
and the way forward. The forum is in its 5th year already and this
year, it seemed like all of DRC had gathered together for 3 days to support the
cause.
had the opportunity to represent UBA Group Chairman, Mr Tony O. Elumelu, at the
Sultani Makutano conference in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).
The Makutano was a meeting of great minds, leaders and youths from across Africa
in one space, to discuss the issues that impede development on the continent
and the way forward. The forum is in its 5th year already and this
year, it seemed like all of DRC had gathered together for 3 days to support the
cause.
Africa is the
continent less travelled. A good reason for this is the lack of available and
or affordable network of transportation to get people around. What should
typically have been a three – hour flight, took me 24 hours from door-to-door.
continent less travelled. A good reason for this is the lack of available and
or affordable network of transportation to get people around. What should
typically have been a three – hour flight, took me 24 hours from door-to-door.
I wasn’t tired
however. I knew the trip was going to be worth the journey. I was energetic as
I arrived in Kinshasa, the country that is now the biggest land mass in Africa(after
the Sudan was divided into North and South). DRC has over 80 million
inhabitants, with an estimated growth to 90 million in the next couple of
years. The land is massive and though not as populated as my country of origin,
Nigeria, there are 12 million people living in the capital city of Kinshasa.
however. I knew the trip was going to be worth the journey. I was energetic as
I arrived in Kinshasa, the country that is now the biggest land mass in Africa(after
the Sudan was divided into North and South). DRC has over 80 million
inhabitants, with an estimated growth to 90 million in the next couple of
years. The land is massive and though not as populated as my country of origin,
Nigeria, there are 12 million people living in the capital city of Kinshasa.
The United
Bank for Africa, UBA, operates in DRC and has a prominent profile in the
country. What that means is that the economy of DRC is doing okay with a lot of
potential to be great. I hear that it was once the African country where the
best medical doctors on the continent lived and worked. Fashionable Kinshasa is
home of the Sapeurs; The Chic Congolais are known all over the world for their
dedication to looking good. It is extremely rich in natural resources but like
many other African countries, about 80% of its population still live in
poverty.
Bank for Africa, UBA, operates in DRC and has a prominent profile in the
country. What that means is that the economy of DRC is doing okay with a lot of
potential to be great. I hear that it was once the African country where the
best medical doctors on the continent lived and worked. Fashionable Kinshasa is
home of the Sapeurs; The Chic Congolais are known all over the world for their
dedication to looking good. It is extremely rich in natural resources but like
many other African countries, about 80% of its population still live in
poverty.
That’s one of
the reasons for the gathering of participants at the Makutano forum. The newly
elected and dynamic, young president of the DRC, H.E Felix Tshisekedi was at
the Sultani Makutano. He means business. He opened the forum, attended
sessions, talked on a panel and closed the forum. He was also at the closing
dinner to celebrate the youths and award those who are the future business
leaders of DRC.
the reasons for the gathering of participants at the Makutano forum. The newly
elected and dynamic, young president of the DRC, H.E Felix Tshisekedi was at
the Sultani Makutano. He means business. He opened the forum, attended
sessions, talked on a panel and closed the forum. He was also at the closing
dinner to celebrate the youths and award those who are the future business
leaders of DRC.
Sultani
Makutano is the brain child of Nicole Sulu-Tshiyoyo, heiress to the Sultani
hotel empire that her father built in highbrow La Gombe in Kinshasa. Nicole
studied speech therapy and business management in Europe and when she first
returned to the Congo, she started to work in a hospital before leaving to join
the family business. She comes from a background of privilege, but is
passionate about eradicating poverty in Africa, especially starting with her
country, DRC.
Makutano is the brain child of Nicole Sulu-Tshiyoyo, heiress to the Sultani
hotel empire that her father built in highbrow La Gombe in Kinshasa. Nicole
studied speech therapy and business management in Europe and when she first
returned to the Congo, she started to work in a hospital before leaving to join
the family business. She comes from a background of privilege, but is
passionate about eradicating poverty in Africa, especially starting with her
country, DRC.
Tony Elumelu,
the UBA Group Chairman continues to make a mark on the continent as he
traverses Africa, changing the narrative from despair to hope. It is the reason
why Nicole was nearly moved to tears when he was unable to make it to the DRC
for Makutano’s fifth year anniversary. I was no consolation but was received
with almost as much hospitality as would have been accorded the father of
Africapitalism. Everywhere I went, I was asked ‘when is Tony coming?’ And yes,
its just Tony because everyone can relate to what he is doing and feels that
they know him personally.
the UBA Group Chairman continues to make a mark on the continent as he
traverses Africa, changing the narrative from despair to hope. It is the reason
why Nicole was nearly moved to tears when he was unable to make it to the DRC
for Makutano’s fifth year anniversary. I was no consolation but was received
with almost as much hospitality as would have been accorded the father of
Africapitalism. Everywhere I went, I was asked ‘when is Tony coming?’ And yes,
its just Tony because everyone can relate to what he is doing and feels that
they know him personally.
Tony wasn’t at
Makutano, but his ideal of Africapitlaism was alive as several presidents and
ex – presidents met to discuss the issues around poverty and development in
Africa. President Felix Tshisekedi was host to the President of Niger,
Mahamadou Issoufou; Liberia’s former President, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf;
Ghana’s immediate former President John Mahama; Minister Cheik Kante, the
Senegalese minister for planning who was representing President Macky Sall.
Private sector leaders like Gisele Mundiay(immediate past Chair lady of UBA,
DRC); Patrick Kabisi(CEO, UBA DRC); Joss Ilunga(CEO of Dijimba Sarl); Abary
Souaibou(DG of Afriland first bank); Michel Losembe(CEO of Tshinu Consulting)
as well as representatives of international Aid organisations were also present,
amongst many other notable figures.
Makutano, but his ideal of Africapitlaism was alive as several presidents and
ex – presidents met to discuss the issues around poverty and development in
Africa. President Felix Tshisekedi was host to the President of Niger,
Mahamadou Issoufou; Liberia’s former President, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf;
Ghana’s immediate former President John Mahama; Minister Cheik Kante, the
Senegalese minister for planning who was representing President Macky Sall.
Private sector leaders like Gisele Mundiay(immediate past Chair lady of UBA,
DRC); Patrick Kabisi(CEO, UBA DRC); Joss Ilunga(CEO of Dijimba Sarl); Abary
Souaibou(DG of Afriland first bank); Michel Losembe(CEO of Tshinu Consulting)
as well as representatives of international Aid organisations were also present,
amongst many other notable figures.
I attended a
panel session for women in business where Madame Ellen Sirleaf spoke as did the
first lady of DRC, Mrs Denise Nyakeru Thsisekedi; Noella Coursaris Musunka, the
super model turned philanthropist also spoke so eloquently. The voice of the
first female president of the DRC House of Assembly, Honourable Jeanine Mabunda
Mudiayi was very moving but the one I will remember the most was Valerie Neim,
the DG of Credit Cooperatif in Cameroun. She talked about her rise to the top
as a woman. Along the way, she lost her son because of work. This session for
me as a woman, and a working woman, was one that I listened to in awe of every
speaker at the breakfast meeting.
panel session for women in business where Madame Ellen Sirleaf spoke as did the
first lady of DRC, Mrs Denise Nyakeru Thsisekedi; Noella Coursaris Musunka, the
super model turned philanthropist also spoke so eloquently. The voice of the
first female president of the DRC House of Assembly, Honourable Jeanine Mabunda
Mudiayi was very moving but the one I will remember the most was Valerie Neim,
the DG of Credit Cooperatif in Cameroun. She talked about her rise to the top
as a woman. Along the way, she lost her son because of work. This session for
me as a woman, and a working woman, was one that I listened to in awe of every
speaker at the breakfast meeting.
The
presidential panel later on that day was invigorating. The president started by
referencing his trip to Abuja, Nigeria a couple of months prior, to attend the
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Forum. He recalled the Congolese entrepreneurs
who were representing the DRC and his interaction with them throughout the 2
days. It awakened something in him. “Africa is the continent of plenty’ he
said. And former president Mahama
re-affirmed this saying ‘governments should use these resources, make decisions
that will make their people happy and help them progress’.
presidential panel later on that day was invigorating. The president started by
referencing his trip to Abuja, Nigeria a couple of months prior, to attend the
Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Forum. He recalled the Congolese entrepreneurs
who were representing the DRC and his interaction with them throughout the 2
days. It awakened something in him. “Africa is the continent of plenty’ he
said. And former president Mahama
re-affirmed this saying ‘governments should use these resources, make decisions
that will make their people happy and help them progress’.
The week before
this had been one of deep thought and some kind of re-examination in Africa as
blacks turned on blacks in South Africa, a country where the blacks had been
under oppression for decades through the era of apartheid. Many found it
unbelievable that the black South Africans could not remember their African
brothers who fought on their side through the dark ages.
this had been one of deep thought and some kind of re-examination in Africa as
blacks turned on blacks in South Africa, a country where the blacks had been
under oppression for decades through the era of apartheid. Many found it
unbelievable that the black South Africans could not remember their African
brothers who fought on their side through the dark ages.
At Makutano,
the question came up as to who the real foreigners were on the continent. Minister
Kante who was representing President Macky Sall asked ‘are the real foreigners
those who re-invest what they make doing business in your country or those who
take the bulk of it out to developed countries”? He urged Africans to take
charge of their economies and never to be shy to show success.
the question came up as to who the real foreigners were on the continent. Minister
Kante who was representing President Macky Sall asked ‘are the real foreigners
those who re-invest what they make doing business in your country or those who
take the bulk of it out to developed countries”? He urged Africans to take
charge of their economies and never to be shy to show success.
My trip to the
DRC reinforced that Africa is indeed a continent of plenty: people, natural
resources, not to talk about the sunshine and the colourful and varied
cultures. So what is lacking and keeping
the continent behind? Mrs Johnson- Sirleaf says it would help if we all learnt
each other’s languages.
DRC reinforced that Africa is indeed a continent of plenty: people, natural
resources, not to talk about the sunshine and the colourful and varied
cultures. So what is lacking and keeping
the continent behind? Mrs Johnson- Sirleaf says it would help if we all learnt
each other’s languages.
I certainly
don’t have the answer. The rhetoric will continue for many years longer until
we eventually find the solution. For me, for now, I would say travel around the
continent could be made easier. We need affordable modes of transportation like
trains, and we also need good roads for cars and buses. We all need to be able
to move around to see the potential of our continent. Maybe only then can the
transition to prosperity be realized. We could all be heroes, if we were only
awake.
don’t have the answer. The rhetoric will continue for many years longer until
we eventually find the solution. For me, for now, I would say travel around the
continent could be made easier. We need affordable modes of transportation like
trains, and we also need good roads for cars and buses. We all need to be able
to move around to see the potential of our continent. Maybe only then can the
transition to prosperity be realized. We could all be heroes, if we were only
awake.
Thank you so much for this. I was into this issue and tired to tinker around to check if its possible but couldnt get it done. Now that i have seen the way you did it, thanks guys
with
regards
ucbrowser.vip
shareit.onl
mxplayer.pro