2015 was particularly a trying year for Africa. With fluctuating economic growth rate and plunge in oil prices, the continent still had to contend with several episodes of labour unrest, crisis and terrorism. However, it’s been a year of victory too as Guinea and Sierra Leone previously ravaged by Ebola have been given a clean bill of health, thereby boosting the already receding economies.
While taking stock of the happenings on Africa’s business space as the year winds down, Ventures Africa shares noteworthy quotes from various economic decision makers in the continent.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
“Women work harder. And women are more honest; they have less reasons to be corrupt.”
With Sirleaf’s relentless efforts, Sierra Leone has been declared Ebola free.
Aliko Dangote
“Every morning when I wake up, I make up my mind to solve as many problems as possible before retiring home”
In the spirit of solving problems, Dangote‘s refinery (currently under construction) which will produce 650,000 barrels of petroleum will be completed by 2016
Acha Leke
“Would it have mattered to Africa that I lived? Ask yourself what you can do to contribute – even in small ways.”
Rated as one of the most influential Africans, Leke is the Director at Mckinsey & Company.
Razia Khan
“a good, long-term measure would be to focus on drawing informal sector companies into the tax net.”
Khan, the Managing Director at Standard Chartered Bank said this at a forum which was aimed at raising the much needed funds for the country in 2016.
John ‘Bulldozer’ Magufuli
“It’s now time for us to unite and put our differences aside, I will work hard for all Tanzanians regardless of their tribal, religious or ideological affiliations.”
Magufuli, the recently elected Tanzanian President was nicknamed bulldozer for driving a programme to build roads across the country.
Ivor Ichikowitz
“It is very hurtful to be referred to as an arms dealer because it is tantamount to calling the chairman of GlaxoSmithKline a drug dealer.”
Ichikowitz founded the Paramount Group in 1994, to operate in the global defence, internal security and peacekeeping industries. He was recently named as one of the most influential people in Africa.
Chris Kirubi
“One of the most important lessons I have come to learn over the years is that you can’t do today’s job with yesterday’s methods and be in business tomorrow. You must keep learning new methods and ways of doing things to keep abreast with the world’s ever changing trends.”
Kirubi is one of the wealthiest Kenyans. He’s a businessman and a philanthropist.
Arunma Oteh
“A great time to join the World Bank given the innovative solutions it is deploying to end extreme poverty and ensure shared prosperity.”
Oteh on her appointment as the Vice-President of World Bank in September, 2015
Widad Bouchamoui
“We did it together, the four of us”
Bouchamoui said this while receiving the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet for its role in building democracy in Tunisia.
