The School of Politics, Policy and Governance has stated that innovative solutions are required to address present and future problems of Africa.
The leadership institution made this known at the maiden plenary of the Big Ideas Platform, recently, in Abuja.
Themed ‘Reawakening the African Renaissance: Pathways to Inclusive Growth and Development,’ the session featured exceptional thought leaders, policymakers, politicians, entrepreneurs and experts from various sectors of the continent.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Outsource Global, Amal Hassan, stated that effective implementation of innovative ideas would address Africa’s challenges and take the continent to greater heights.
She said, “Knowledge and innovation are the foundation of development. With innovation, we can create numerous ways to enhance productivity and utilise our abundant human resources. We can create unlimited employment opportunities by outsourcing our talents and our youths to work globally without leaving Africa.”
Former World Bank Vice President and founder of SPPG, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, noted that African governments must invest in youth, women and technology to improve the continent’s Gross Domestic Product.
Ezekwesili said, “Africa’s mean or median age is about 18.6 years compared to the global average of 40 years. Young people hold the key to creating a better future and they are the ones with the most innovative ideas and energy to build a better society for tomorrow.
“So, we have to invest in them to kickstart long-term economic growth, which will ultimately drive poverty reduction, improve productivity and better living standards.”
Speaking on youth development, Chief Economist at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Dr Andrew Nevin, encouraged SPPG to lead the way in the use of blockchain technology to create inimitable record systems for students’ results and transcripts, as this will improve youth academic administration.
The National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress (North West), Salihu Lukman, remarked that most of Africa’s challenge arise from investing in political candidates, instead of good governance and political parties.
According to the APC chieftain, since the wake of the millennium, Africans have focused more on candidates for elections, instead of good governance and quality policy formulation.
He stated, “If good governance and true democracy is embedded in the political class, the continent will experience radical development.”
On his part, CEO of Norebase, Adetola Onayemi, identified country borders as the artificial ceilings to Africa’s growth.
“Borders restrict the free flow of people, goods and ideas, confining small nations with relatively fewer resources or markets, while benefiting large countries with access to greater pools of capital, ideas and buyers.
“African countries need to invest more in research, development and home-grown digital solutions. Digitally transforming all elements of the continent’s economy – from education to healthcare, agriculture and telecommunications – will require innovative solutions and inclusive finance strategies. For Africa to achieve its true potential, its people need to be empowered with digital tools and technologies that can be shared across borders, for the benefit of all countries,” he added.
The Executive Director of FixPolitics, Tony Ubani, noted that the Big Ideas Platform is a marketplace of global public good, focused on Africa through which SPPG engages her students, policymakers and the general public to think about positively disruptive ideas with the potential to impact Africa.
Across Africa, according to him, citizens are inventing incredible ideas that can transform the continent as they tackle issues from new perspectives.
“The platform provides a unique forum for these ideas to be heard and reflected upon by advocates, policymakers, business leaders, community-based citizens and philanthropists to amplify the power of ideas and imagination, and enhance scale and implementation,” he added.
