Africa must leapfrog dev through its youth population – Buhari’s ex-aide Gambari

Former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has stated that Africa must harness its youth population to leapfrog its development, positioning the continent as a key player in global affairs.OMENEWSONDO DECIDESPOLITICSMETROBUSINESSSPORTSEDITORIALCOLUMNSALLUREE-EDITIONSNEWSNovember 19, 2024Africa must leapfrog dev through its youth population – Buhari’s ex-aide GambariAfrica must leapfrog dev through its youth population – Buhari’s ex-aide Gambari….As Realnews Mag Holds 12th Anniversary Lecture and Hall of Fame Induction in LagosBy Olasunkanmi AkoniFormer Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has stated that Africa must harness its youth population to leapfrog its development, positioning the continent as a key player in global affairs.Gambari made this statement in his address as the guest lecturer during the 12th Anniversary Lecture and Investiture into the Realnews Hall of Fame, which took place in Ikeja, Lagos. The event was organized by Realnews Online Magazine and attended by media executives, including the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Eze Anaba. The theme for the event was “Africa in World Shifting Geopolitics: Matters Arising on Demography, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Natural Resources.”The 2024 inductees into the Realnews Hall of Fame included Ms. Beatrice Eyong, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, Dr. Karim El Aynaoui, and Engr. Shehu Tijjani.In his lecture, Gambari, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed Africa’s place in the ongoing geopolitical shifts, emphasizing the continent’s potential as a key demographic player in a world where many regions face declining and ageing populations. He argued that while some view Africa’s demographic growth as a security challenge, it also presents a significant opportunity for the continent to drive its structural transformation.He said, “Taking advantage of the African demographic dividend in a renewed season of global geopolitics effectively means that the countries of the continent must build national and regional strategies by leveraging the energy, innovative acumen, and futuristic vision of its young people in order to ensure that as a new world order takes shape, we are positioned to be joint rule-makers.”Gambari continued, “Although there is no doubt that we are in the throes of rapid, complex, multidimensional change in global affairs, it is equally important to know that the outcome of the ongoing geopolitical shifts are not necessarily destined to be at the expense of or to the detriment of our people and continent. We must be ready to harness our abundant human and natural resources to leapfrog our development in order to achieve the structural transformation that has eluded us for too long.”He added, “We have the opportunity to insist on being joint rule-makers so that the new global order reflects our values and aspirations for a fairer, more inclusive, and equitable world. We must ensure that our youth bulge is turned into an advantage that puts us at the forefront of the digital economy and the innovations underpinning it.”Gambari also highlighted the rapid pace of global change, noting the role of globalization and digital technologies in reshaping the world. He pointed out that although globalization has made the world feel smaller, its benefits have been unevenly distributed, exacerbating poverty and inequality.Gambari made this statement in his address as the guest lecturer during the 12th Anniversary Lecture and Investiture into the Realnews Hall of Fame, which took place in Ikeja, Lagos. The event was organized by Realnews Online Magazine and attended by media executives, including the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor of Vanguard Media Limited, Mr. Eze Anaba. The theme for the event was “Africa in World Shifting Geopolitics: Matters Arising on Demography, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Natural Resources.”

The 2024 inductees into the Realnews Hall of Fame included Ms. Beatrice Eyong, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, Dr. Karim El Aynaoui, and Engr. Shehu Tijjani.

In his lecture, Gambari, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed Africa’s place in the ongoing geopolitical shifts, emphasizing the continent’s potential as a key demographic player in a world where many regions face declining and ageing populations. He argued that while some view Africa’s demographic growth as a security challenge, it also presents a significant opportunity for the continent to drive its structural transformation.

He said, “Taking advantage of the African demographic dividend in a renewed season of global geopolitics effectively means that the countries of the continent must build national and regional strategies by leveraging the energy, innovative acumen, and futuristic vision of its young people in order to ensure that as a new world order takes shape, we are positioned to be joint rule-makers.”

Gambari continued, “Although there is no doubt that we are in the throes of rapid, complex, multidimensional change in global affairs, it is equally important to know that the outcome of the ongoing geopolitical shifts are not necessarily destined to be at the expense of or to the detriment of our people and continent. We must be ready to harness our abundant human and natural resources to leapfrog our development in order to achieve the structural transformation that has eluded us for too long.”

He added, “We have the opportunity to insist on being joint rule-makers so that the new global order reflects our values and aspirations for a fairer, more inclusive, and equitable world. We must ensure that our youth bulge is turned into an advantage that puts us at the forefront of the digital economy and the innovations underpinning it.”

Gambari also highlighted the rapid pace of global change, noting the role of globalization and digital technologies in reshaping the world. He pointed out that although globalization has made the world feel smaller, its benefits have been unevenly distributed, exacerbating poverty and inequality.

He said, “A big winner from the dynamics of contemporary globalization has been China and several East Asian countries. Together, their successes in the exponential expansion of their economic fortunes have ensured that by the dawn of the 21st century, global economic power was rapidly being de-centred from the West and shifting to the East.”

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Gambari further stressed that Africa stands to benefit from this global shift and must position itself to play a leading role in the new world order.

The Chairman of the occasion, Beatrice Eyong, Country Representative for UN Women, emphasized the need for Africa to include women in governance processes. She cited the insufficient number of women in government and warned that the feminization of poverty would deepen the challenges faced by African women.

The Publisher of Realnews, Maureen Chigbo, explained that the anniversary lecture series provides a platform for policy change-oriented discussions among professionals, scholars, technocrats, and decision-makers. She noted that the magazine’s theme for this year’s event focused on how Africa can integrate into the global economy amidst growing trends toward authoritarianism, protectionism, and nationalism, along with the influence of technology on socioeconomic well-being.

Chigbo also discussed the challenges faced by the magazine in sustaining itself in a difficult economic environment, with dwindling prospects for advertisement, despite its impactful contributions to sectors such as politics, oil and gas, business, economy, women, youth, and the environment.

Source :Vanguard