Page 93 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 13

Innovate Afrika

because they are heavily taxed.
Sales are not there, because of the
inclusion of foreign products. The
policies to support these kinds of
entrepreneurs will result in good
payment and wages to the youth, to
the young boys and girls who want
to see a better future, so that they
don’t get carried away by the west-
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piecemeal… everybody has formed economies. Where we have 60- So, your message is both to
their own buses to ride on, but then 70% of youth in the world who the young people and to the
all of them have to come together at need to be motivated the right way, policy makers then.
the end of the day. The first initia- along the right perspective so they Yes, everybody has to work hand
tive ECOWAS took is the Eco, the don’t run for greener pastures. The in hand. Every economy flourishes
one currency. This is a good initia- areas which influence them in the or ruins because of government
tive. All this has to come [together]: wrong way: social media, internet, policies. A small change, a wrong
visa free travel, all the trade has to the new apps that are coming out, change, an unprecedented change
be smoothened in terms of border the connectivity that has come results in disaster for any growing
crossing and bilateral trade, settle- very easily. The influence to these business.
ment of payments between banks to minds is happening at 1000% rapid
allow the hedging of currency to be speed, where their wishes ae going How do we inspire govern-
within Afrika and not hedged to the beyond their understanding; they ments to remember us?
US dollar. These are small transfor- are not even able to understand That is beyond my subject to inter-
mations that could bring a revolu- whether their wishes are realistic. vene and give a statement. But it’s
tionary change. One Afrika has to For example, a guy or a small boy not that nobody is thinking. There
come in front. who is studying in a school in a rural are a few leaders thinking for the
village, he is exposed to social media country and trying to push the
Jignesh, we have to talk about apps and certain gadgets, which he country to a better stage, where the
something very serious. The starts creating in his mind pictures livelihood becomes easy, the people
young men and women of of ‘How can I have those?’ And get good jobs, and there is a good
Afrika, many of whom are having those is not the end, because mindset amidst the entire youth.
fleeing, risking life and limb the apps need data, you need light, It starts from education - efficient
to cross the Mediterranean you need a lot of things. So, then he and collaborative education. All in a
wants to go an extra mile to achieve
to look for greener pastures. those. Now, to achieve those, they nutshell, things are progressing but
Many of them look at Afrika are looking for shortcuts to make still it needs more.
and they don’t see a continent money out of, and to make money Thank you for your time we
of hope, they don’t see op- they are doing all sorts of wrong appreciate what you’re doing
portunities. They take money things, because easy money is not incubating businesses and
that would actually be enough easy. Easy money is complicated ideas and giving them accel-
to start a business but they go because you will indulge into wrong eration and amplification in
and use it to pay for access to practices. Afrika for them to have room
ships that will cross the Med- to grow.
iterranean to go and try and The second [issue] affecting the If you would like to consult
build there and end up living drive is the labor laws, because in Jignesh Viradia, please get
Afrika our labor laws are not tight-
horrible lives trying to survive ened properly to where a laborer in touch with us and we will
the climate there. What would who goes to work should get this do what we can to put you in
you say to them? payment. And, those industries contact with him.
Youths are the key engine of the and businesses are not able to pay,
growth of all the countries and

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