Obama’s Clarion Call On African Leaders

Now that the much-vaunted American President’s visit to Africa has come and gone, it behoves us to take stock of the gains, if any, of that visit. While we cannot underestimate the importance of that august visit, the truth is that the global concern about Nelson Mandela’s ill health robbed it of its shine and glamour.

Still, the gains of President Barack Obama’s visit can never be overemphasized. This is the only time the most powerful leader in the world spent a considerable time visiting three countries in his father’s continent of origin. Obama’s first visit was a mere stop-over in Ghana, enroute from Europe, where he spent about 20 hours.

President Obama’s visit is important in the sense that he sees Africa as a continent of the future. Unlike the previous visit of American Presidents to the continent which were always characterized by pitiable feelings and promises of aid, Obama spoke of a rising continent and the need for the United States to partner with African countries in the areas of trade and investment.

This is understandable, considering the huge natural and human potential of the African continent. Obama sees Africa as a continent of the future, given the fact that the youth constitute a larger chunk of the people living on the continent. A very salient aspect of Obama’s speech is his repeated call on African leaders to harness the huge potential of the youth.

Though some critics are taking Obama’s speeches on the continent with a pinch of the salt because they believe his visit is purely based on American national interest and necessitated by China’s trade incursions on the continent, Obama’s clarion call is very invaluable. There is no gainsaying the fact that, aside corruption, one of the reasons why there is so much poverty in Africa is that African leaders have failed to mobilize the youth and harness their huge potential for development.

It is a shame that African leaders had to wait for Obama to remind them of their responsibilities. African youths are the most under-utilized and maltreated segment of the population. It is either they are unemployed, under-employed or they are involved in criminal activities. In Nigeria, for instance, the education of an average university student is often interrupted by incessant industrial actions. So they waste the years they should have been useful in the society engaging in unproductive actvities.

The youths, they say, are the leaders of tomorrow. But until African leaders harness their full potential, our desire for development will be a will o the wisp. We believe African leaders should devote more time trying to harness the potential of the youth, rather than enrich themselves corruptly, for that is where the future of the continent lies.