“It's possible in Africa” – Agambire tells African youth abroad

Reigning CIMG Marketing Man of the Year, Roland Agambire has told African youth living and studying abroad they owe it a moral duty to return to their countries and bring their international exposure and knowledge to bear on ongoing reconstruction efforts on the continent.

Mr Agambire told the just-ended International Conference on Entrepreneurship and Leadership at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, it is possible for the various countries in Africa to re-emerge from the current quagmire of under-development and socio-economic instabilities to become the economic giant of the world.

He spoke on the topic “Navigating the landmines of entrepreneurship: bursting the myths”

“All it takes is good leadership and a real commitment to succeed,” he told the delegates mostly African and Asian graduate students studying at the Robert Gordon University.

He cited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where good leadership has catapulted the country to what he termed “indispensable economic giant of the world” within a period of four decades.

Mr Agambire who is also the chief executive of Rlg Communications Ltd said given the enormous commitment by governments in the region to adopt the developmental democracy path, the educated youth would be required to play important role, both in governance and in business.

He took a swipe at young persons who over-rely on “freebies” but refuse to engage in productive ventures, describing it as highly unsustainable and counterproductive.

He urged the students to be worthy ambassadors of their various countries and the continent in general.

He described as unfortunate the misconception that African businessmen and women cannot make it unless through politics or drugs, saying with the vast resources and the current goodwill by the international community, any determined African can make it big in a genuine manner.

Dr. Robert Smith of the Scottish Institute for Policy Research commended gains made by some African countries so far.

The Chairman of the Grampian Regional Equality Council and a Consultant in International Business and Corporate Governance, Dr. Philip Muinde said the aid question ought to be resolved with Africans to facilitate the understanding and appreciation that it is not the solution to Africa's developmental challenges.

President of the Robert Gordon University Students' Union in-charge of Communication and Democracy, Francisca Chiedu said the conference afforded the students opportunity to reflect on transformation challenges of Africa and mobilize support for its success.

The two-day conference was on the theme “The new frontier of sustainable development; the role of the African youth”.

It was also part of events around the world to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now known as the African Union (AU).