Africa Day must be about the future too

AFRICA commemorates Africa Day today, honouring the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) in 1963, a pivotal moment that marked the continent’s unified resistance against colonialism and its powerful declaration of Pan-Africanism.

The transformative theme that guides the commemoration of Africa Day this year, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, evokes a profound sense of remembrance.

On the one hand, it serves as a stark reminder of the painful historical legacy of slavery and colonial exploitation that still reverberates across generations.

On the other, it imbues Africans with a renewed sense of possibility for a more just and equitable future, one where reparations provide the means to address historical injustices and shape a fairer world for people of African descent.

The demand for reparations is not merely about addressing historical grievances; it is about repairing a living legacy of underdevelopment, marginalisation and systemic exclusion.

There is work to be done, urgent, transformative and led by Africans themselves.

Reparative justice must be twofold: a global campaign for redress and a continental commitment to rebirth.

It is time to change the narrative.

To achieve the desired goals, development in Africa must begin with unity.

The founding vision of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was one of continental solidarity, understanding that Africa’s strength lies in collective action.

Fragmented markets, political rivalries and artificial colonial borders continue to hinder the continent’s progress.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2021, holds immense promise, creating the world’s largest free trade area by number of countries.

But its full potential has yet to be realised.

African countries must work towards harmonising trade policies, simplifying cross-border procedures, improving infrastructure and facilitating the free movement of people and goods.

A united Africa is more than a trade bloc; it is a political force. Through unity, Africa can negotiate fairer terms on the global stage, resist economic exploitation and assert its voice on matters ranging from climate change to digital regulation.

Africa’s greatest asset is not its gold, oil or fertile soil, but its people, particularly its youth, with over 60 percent of the population under the age of 25.

This demographic advantage can be either a dividend or a disaster, depending on the choices we make today.

Higher education and research institutions must be adequately funded and protected from brain drain.

Innovation hubs, tech incubators and digital literacy programmes must be scaled up to prepare the youth for the jobs of the future, not the past.

If it invests in knowledge and creativity, Africa will no longer be a follower in the Fourth Industrial Revolution; it will be a leader.

The continent has the capacity to feed itself and much of the world, yet food insecurity remains a persistent challenge.

More than 60 percent of Africa’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, but productivity remains low due to poor infrastructure, limited access to credit and reliance on rain-fed methods.

To develop sustainably, Africa must revolutionise its agricultural systems. That means embracing climate-smart agriculture, investing in irrigation and storage, supporting smallholder farmers and developing agro-processing industries that keep more value on the continent.

Africa is endowed with vast mineral wealth — including gold, diamonds, cobalt, oil and rare earth elements — but these riches have rarely translated into prosperity for its people.

The problem is not the lack of resources, but the structures of extraction and exportation. For too long, Africa has exported raw materials only to import finished products at higher costs. This must change.

Africa must build industries that process and add value locally.

There is need to enforce fair contracts, demand technology transfer and ensure that communities benefit from their resources.

Africa must create platforms to engage the diaspora, not just as donors, but as partners in development. Dual citizenship, diaspora investment bonds, cultural exchanges and political inclusion can transform brain drain into brain gain.

Moreover, Africa must redefine its global partnerships.

Development aid has its place, but it cannot replace fair trade, mutual respect and shared ownership of global solutions.

Africa must speak with one voice at the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and Conference of the Parties on climate change.

The era of dependency must end; the age of strategic partnership must begin.

Africa Day is not just a celebration of where the continent has come from; it is a challenge to shape where it is going.