- Africa has talent and ideas but needs stronger institutions
- Urges young people to build accountable governments, businesses and organisations
- Calls for greater collaboration to drive lasting change across the continent
BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – Africa future lies in the strength of its institutions rather than the number of ideas or conversations taking place across the continent, United World Colleges (UWC) International Executive Director Faith Abiodun.
Abiodun says while Africa is rich in talent, creativity and innovation, the continent will only realise its full potential if its people focus on building strong, accountable and sustainable institutions capable of delivering lasting change.
BUILD BETTER AFRICA
“The greatest honour we can give our ancestors is to build a better Africa now. It is time for us to build better. It is time for us to become better,” he says.
Speaking on Mandela Day, Abiodun draws on Africa’s history of resilience, unity and sacrifice, using the life of legendary singer and anti-apartheid activist Miriam Makeba to demonstrate how solidarity among African nations helps shape the continent’s liberation struggle.
He explains that after becoming one of apartheid’s fiercest critics, Makeba loses her South African citizenship and passport, leaving her unable to return home, even for her mother’s funeral. Algeria, Ghana and Guinea respond by offering her passports, demonstrating the power of pan-African solidarity.
PAN-AFRICAN SOLIDARITY
Abiodun says the same spirit of solidarity must now drive the building of institutions that promote good governance, create jobs, strengthen economies and improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
He challenges young Africans to reject the belief that meaningful change belongs to future generations, saying the responsibility to shape the continent rests with those prepared to act today.
Drawing from his Yoruba heritage, he says Africa produces great civilisations, artists, scholars and innovators long before colonialism, adding that the continent must reclaim that legacy with confidence while creating new opportunities for future generations.
ART UNITES AFRICA
Abiodun describes art as one of Africa’s greatest strengths, saying it preserves the continent’s identity through centuries of struggle and continues to unite Africans beyond borders, languages and cultures.
“We may speak different languages, but when the beat drops, our hips often move in the same direction,” he says.
He calls on Africans to tell their own stories and define their own standards of excellence, arguing that the continent should no longer allow others to shape its narrative or determine its future.
TIME FOR ACTION
Abiodun urges Africans to move beyond endless discussions and focus on building institutions capable of transforming societies. While acknowledging that many people are already working hard in their communities, he says too many initiatives remain small and fragmented to deliver the scale of change the continent requires.
He encourages young people to ask themselves where they can make the greatest contribution, what skills they possess and who else is already working towards the same goals, urging them to collaborate instead of working in isolation.
He also says studying abroad remains valuable when the knowledge and experience gained are used to strengthen Africa and solve the continent’s challenges.
EDUCATION THE GREAT EQUALISER
Waterford Kamhlaba Principal Jackie Otula says education is “the great equaliser” and urges young people to tell Africa’s story with dignity, confidence and authenticity while using their knowledge to build a more just, peaceful and prosperous continent.
The keynote message centres on one challenge: Africa’s next chapter depends not on speeches or promises, but on a generation committed to building strong institutions that serve the continent for decades to come.
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(Courtesy Pic)
