urge Africans to pursue common interest for sustainable growth

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians and the entire African continent, including those in the diaspora to come together and pursue one common interest of building an inclusive economic growth to achieve  shared prosperity.

Obasanjo who spoke on the theme: ‘The Journey to Prosperity,  alongside other panelists at the 30th Anniversary and yearly general meeting of Afreximbank held in Accra, Ghana said: “Our first common interest in this journey  is to build an inclusive and resilient economy.

According to him: “We have suffered so much , from slavery to slave trade, colonialism to neo colonialism and still suffering till date.

“If we do not document this fact to remember history,  history will repeat itself. We must prevent reoccurence of what has happened to us.

“We must identify our interest and guide it jealously. The people that colonised us devised capitalism for themselves in their own interest, now what we should do is to handle capitalism to be in our interest.”

According to him,  if Africans fail to learn from their history and past mistakes and make amends, those mistakes will be repeated.

He said this is because nations on other continents are interested in African resources, not the well-being of Africans.

Also speaking, the chairman of United Bank of Africa (UBA) Group, Tony Elumelu said the drive to achieve  prosperity in Africa should be the responsibility of every one both the young,  government,  private sector among others.

Elumelu also stressed the need for all stakeholders to collaborate and work together to drive industrialisation  in Africa.
In addition, he stated that the future of the continent is in the hands of the young ones.

Therefore, he  charged entrepreneurs to embrace hard work, patience, humility, tenacity and sacrifice on their entrepreneurial journey to success.
He also stressed the need  to accelerate youths  empowered to achieve the ambition of a well-developed continent.

“Entrepreneurs should be prepared for opportunities so that so that when opportunity meets preparedness, you can take the opportunity.

“I see opportunity when some do not, i see potential where some do not, my success has never been a hindrance to others and i believe my success will be a catalyst for others to grow,” he said.

President and Chairman of board of Afreximbank, Prof Benedict Oramah said sustainable developmental process is a continum, adding that structural growth is a long term achievement that requires consistent approach.

“We need to have an institutional memory to preserve key processes driving our performance. You could pursue development using commercial approach and become profitable but if you do not document it, someone will tell the story differently,” he said.