State Emissary, November 2017. Issue 1 2017 Edition | Page 35

SM |DEVELOPMENT
That future of Africa belongs to the youths, but that
future will be determined by quality of the thoughts,
the extent of the vision and the stretch of the
imaginations of Africa’s youth. The present crop of
African youths cannot afford to fail their generation
by jeopardizing the future for a morsel of dry bread
and crunches that have fallen from the table of
political national cake devourers.
In three decades from now, would Africa’s have a
dynamic new set of leaders leading globally in
technology, business, education or politics and
changing the narratives of Africa? Would this be a
switch from the decades of political power for self
aggrandizement to the decades of true leadership
through the people-centric leadership strategy for
human capital and socio-economic development?
Deep thoughts linger in my heart, whether African
youths will recognize when their moment comes and
seize it or let the opportunity slip away. Would the
youth in my generation get it right or would we be
driven by the selfish quest for materialism, tussle for
power or competition among ourselves at the
expense of our national and community
development? Perhaps we may be distracted and
carried away with our new found love- social media.
Would we have a common vision or would we be torn
apart by ethnic divides or xenophobia instead of
striving for pan-African continent? Would we still
have a common African heritage?
to transform Africa?
Bearing the scepter of leadership is a herculean task. It
is now that we must take the reformative capsule, set
our priorities right and understand the compass before
we set sail, so we can be able to withstand the
turbulent waves and boisterous winds that must test
our resolve to create the Africa we want, the Africa of
our dreams and the Africa we can be proud of.
There are those whose god are their belly, blinded by
their insatiable quest for greed, and smeared in the
deadness of their conscience and for their own selfish
interest will want to resist the change that is coming to
the corridors of power, we the youths must resist them
fiercely. We must resist the temptations to be lured
into the filth of their stolen wealth.
The vision to liberate, impact and transform Africa
must be our solemn pledge and the creed in our heart.
The Africa of our dreams is not far away, it draws nigh
by the day and the question still lingers… are we the
youths ready for the scepter of leadership?
African youths will have to awaken their intellectual
prowess and arise as the drivers of their national
reformation, engines and wheels of innovations,
creativity and positive change in all industries and
sectors. We must raise new young student leaders,
civil society leaders, social entrepreneurs and public
policy leaders with a difference, young leaders that
have real ethical values, moral fiber and solid integrity
to stand against corruption, combat poverty and
bring to a halt those ills that have plagued and
hindered the development and progress of Africa.
Now is the time when we must bridge the gap of
leadership in Africa by identifying, supporting,
inspiring and training emerging, innovative, vision
driven potential young African leaders of tomorrow
to arise and become the hallmark for compassionate,
visionary and transformational leadership. If the
scepter of leadership is placed in our hands as youths,
can we bear it? What difference are we going to make
NOV. 2017 | 33