Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi, has challenged Africans in the diaspora to become active advocates for good governance.
He insisted that competent leadership—not a lack of resources—is the missing link holding the continent back from achieving sustainable development.

Speaking during a keynote address at Mandela Hall, the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York on July 10, 2026, Obi said Africa possesses enormous human and natural resources but continues to account for the world’s highest concentration of people living in extreme poverty because of poor leadership.

Addressing the theme, “The Role of the Diaspora African in Sustainable Development across Africa,” Obi described Africa as the world’s richest continent in terms of natural resources and human capital, noting that it is home to more than 1.5 billion people, including over one billion youths in their productive years.

He also highlighted the continent’s vast agricultural potential, pointing out that Africa has nearly one billion hectares of arable land, about 60 per cent of which remains uncultivated, making it capable of feeding itself and becoming a global food production hub.

Despite these advantages, Obi lamented that nearly 480 million Africans live in extreme poverty, representing about 60 per cent of the global population in that category.

According to him, the contradiction underscores a fundamental leadership failure rather than a shortage of resources.

“The missing link is competent leadership with capacity, compassion, character and commitment to good governance,” Obi declared.

He argued that once Africa gets leadership right, the continent would begin to unlock its enormous potential and achieve meaningful economic transformation.

Turning to Africans living abroad, Obi urged them to use their exposure to functional institutions and accountable democratic systems to champion better governance across the continent.

He said members of the diaspora should not remain silent in the face of bad governance but should consistently demand accountability from African leaders, even while living outside their home countries.

“Your voices matter. Stand firmly for what is right. Speak truth to the leaders who visit you and let them know where they are getting it wrong,” he said.

Obi also stressed that the contribution of the African diaspora should extend beyond advocacy to knowledge transfer, investment and nation-building.

Drawing lessons from global success stories, he cited Japan’s post-Meiji Restoration modernisation and China’s economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping as examples of how diaspora communities helped transform their countries through education, innovation and the transfer of skills.

He noted that while China once had more people living in poverty than Africa, strategic leadership reforms and diaspora engagement helped lift hundreds of millions out of poverty, leaving Africa with lessons it must urgently embrace.

Obi maintained that Africa’s sustainable development would ultimately depend on visionary leadership supported by an engaged and committed diaspora determined to help reshape the continent’s future.