Experts have called for collective action, accountable leadership and sustained investment in human capital and infrastructure to accelerate Africa’s development and bridge the gap between policy declarations and tangible outcomes across the continent.

They gave the charge during the seventh Arthur Mbanefo lecture held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where stakeholders from academia, government and the private sector examined Africa’s development pathways.

Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, in his lecture titled: ‘Illuminating Africa: From rhetoric to results – The why, the how, the who, and the when,” said Africa’s core challenge is not the absence of ideas or ambition, but the persistent failure to translate plans into tangible development outcomes.

He said that while successive generations of African leadership have produced strategies, communiqués, and vision documents, the gap between intention and implementation remains one of the continent’s most persistent development challenges.

According to him, Africa is currently at a defining moment shaped by rapid urbanisation, technological advancement, and a growing global recognition of the continent as a potential driver of economic growth rather than merely a recipient of development assistance.

He highlighted that Africa’s youthful population remains its greatest asset, and further noted that more than 60 per cent of Africans are under the age of 25, which makes the continent one of the youngest in the world.

He, however, warned that without adequate investment in education, skills development, job creation, and functional institutions, the demographic advantage could become a liability rather than a strength.

Adesina stressed the need to build working systems that will deliver reliable services to citizens, including in key sectors such as energy, healthcare, transportation and justice.

He said development should not only be measured by the existence of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, ports, and power supply, but also by the extent to which such systems improve the daily lives of ordinary citizens.

The group managing director identified trust, collaboration, human capital development, infrastructure, policy consistency, and innovation as the critical pillars required to build a sustainable and competitive African economy.

According to him, trust remains the invisible infrastructure of development, noting that no society can progress where citizens, institutions, and investors lack confidence in systems and leadership.

He, therefore, called for stronger collaboration among governments, the private sector, academic institutions, and citizens, stressing that no single actor can achieve meaningful development alone.

Adesina also referenced Rwanda as an example of national transformation driven by collective responsibility, strong institutions, and consistent policy implementation, saying that the country’s progress demonstrates what is possible when societies choose discipline and shared purpose over division.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr Segun Aina, described the lecture as a timely platform for reflection on Africa’s development trajectory, noting that the continent must prioritise innovation, research, and knowledge creation to remain globally competitive.

He said universities and research institutions must evolve beyond traditional roles to become drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship, and policy solutions.