A former President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has urged African leaders to prioritise industrialisation, technological innovation and ethical leadership to strengthen the continent’s competitiveness in the global economy.

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Adesina said Africa must move beyond exporting raw materials to processing its resources, manufacturing goods and building globally competitive industries.

He made the call on Saturday while delivering a keynote address titled, “Africa’s Next Leap: Visionary and Ethical Leadership for an Integrated and Prosperous Africa in the Global Economy,” at the BPI Iconic Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In a statement issued by his media team on Sunday, Adesina said the continent’s youthful population, natural resources and expanding markets could drive economic growth if properly harnessed.

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“Africa’s greatest asset is its people,” he said, stressing the need to equip young people with relevant education, technical skills and opportunities to create businesses and jobs.

He urged African governments, universities and vocational institutions to prepare young people not only to use emerging technologies but also to develop them.

“Artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, cybersecurity and data science are areas in which African talent should build capacity and compete,” he said.

On continental integration, Adesina described the African Continental Free Trade Area as more than a trade agreement, saying it could provide a platform for industrial growth by connecting markets, attracting investment and enabling African companies to compete globally.

He said countries should combine their strengths in minerals, energy, processing and manufacturing to establish complementary production networks.

“The success of integration should be judged by the products and companies Africa creates, the value it retains and the competitiveness it achieves in global markets,” he said.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria