The future is now

Considering Africa’s past progress, current challenges and future prospects, some of the continents top business and international political leaders have in one way or another helped to craft a bolder agenda for the year 2016 and beyond. Discussing Africa and the use of its resources for the benefits of all Africans could range from infrastructure and attracting capital to challenges such as regional integration, social entrepreneurship and inequality.

Below are a some quotes from 2015 which could help in shaping the continent’s top priorities for achieving the vision of a greater Africa.

Our relationship with the world must change. We must deal with each other as equals.

Jacob G. Zuma. President of the Republic of South Africa

 Six African countries are among the top 10 most unequal in the world.           Winne Byanyima. Executive Director, Oxfam International

 Within five years, half the working population on the African continent will be under 25.

David Meads. President, Cisco Africa

 Africa must close it’s gender gap in order to succeed.

We are the first generation with the possibility to eradicate poverty.

Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka.

United Nations Under-Secretary General. Executive Director of UN Women

 We don’t want to just copy the chinese model–Africa needs its own model.

Fatima Haram Acyl. Commissioner for Trade and Industry. African Union

 It is possible for Africa to quadruple agricultural output in the next 30 years.

Donald Kaberuka. President African Development Bank (AfDB), Abidjan

 An estimated $300 billion for all of sub-Saharan Africa to have access to electricity.

Klaus Findt. Head of Infrastructure in Africa, KPMG

The biggest risk to African growth is climate change

Paul Polman. Chief Executive Officer, Unilever

The ability of technology to transform Africa and our lives is powerful .

Achakeng Leke. Mckinsey and Company